Providing key communication infrastructure for applications across diverse industries. Finding solutions for economical, environmental and national security issues.
Did you know that the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) delivered by the Inmarsat-4 generation of satellites uses technology developed by ITR?
“UniSA had a significant contribution in the development of our new standard air interface, performing a study phase followed by a proof of concept phase (building a physical model). This has led to IAI1 (Inmarsat air interface 1) which was based on 64kbps fitting into a 40kHz channel and was implemented in our GAN (Global Area Network) system. The same technology was extended and implemented in our IAI2 which is the BGAN air interface, where we scaled IAI1 up and down to create the family of BGAN physical bearers. The BGAN service was introduced in 2005 and is currently our mainstream product.”
Eyal Trachtman, Director R&D and Head of New Programs at Inmarsat
Do you know that we developed a space based wireless sensor network?
ITR research aims to increase the reliability, spectral efficiency and flexibility of satellite communications with a particular focus on multiuser systems. These technical innovations deliver entirely new categories of economic delivery of services to remote users.
If these topics are of interest to you, you would be of interest to us: study, collaborate, exchange ideas or imagine new worlds of applications.
In addition, the Satellite Communications group boasts satellite ground station facilities offering L-Band, S-Band and X-Band capabilities – one of only a few available in the southern hemisphere. The 3.0m steerable L-Band and S-band antenna, and 6.8m steerable X-band antenna, and corresponding ground station equipment are available to provide services to various clients for applications such as earth resource data reception and launch vehicle tracking.
X-Band Satellite Reception Facility
Our tracking facility has continued to be used to acquire images downloaded from the Spot 4 and Spot 5 satellites. 2011 saw upgrades to our station reception equipment to the ITR-developed ERSDEM-3 capable of multiple channel reception.
L-Band and S-Band Reception Facility
ITR provided tracking services for the second Autonomous Transfer Vehicle (Johannes Kepler) launch to the International Space Station. ITR’s role is essential as part of the global network of tracking stations providing critical real-time data for this mission. The facility was also used by commercial clients for tracking other low earth orbit satellites.
Space Strategies
ITR has participated in a number of projects involving analysis of satellite communications equipment usage and obsolescence planning, as well as providing input into satellite requirements for Synthetic Aperture Radar applications. These form part of ITR’s continuous involvement with industry, finding solutions to current problems but also identifying space-related strategic directions.
We have a broad spectrum of capabilities and experience that contribute to a range of activities from system level satellite communications system development through to design and implementation of high performance satellite communication equipment, with an emphasis on bandwidth efficiency and achieving performance very close to theoretical limits.
For further information please contact us