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THOR 7: delivering high quality Ka-band services for theMobility VSAT Market

Successfully launched on Sunday April 26, 2015 at20:00 UTC, from the Guiana Space Centre, THOR 7 isTelenor Satellite’s first growth satellite, deliveringsatellite services for the future expansion requirementsof all the markets in which we operate.

THOR 7’s HTS Ka-band payload is highly suited to themobility VSAT market. Offering 6-9 Gbps throughput

with up to 25 simultaneously active spot beams, THOR7 provides services with download speeds in the tensof Mbps, even from small antennas, and delivers uplinkspeeds anywhere up to 6Mbps (depending on antennasize).

The demand for reliable connections is growingexponentially, due to the increased use of IP

HTS KA-BAND MARITIME VSATTelenor Satellite’s maritime VSAT payload aggregated coverage - offering up to 25 simultaneously active spot beams.

Location: 1°WestTarget area: North Sea, North Atlantic/Norwegian Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian

Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Mediterranean.Uplink frequency band: 29.5-30.0 GHzDownlink frequency band: 19.7-20.2 GHzPolarization: (Users) RHCP uplink (Users) LHCP downlink

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applications. Broadband Internet access, VoIP, videostreaming, email and improved access to corporatenetworks are all vitally important to ensure that thoseat sea can stay in touch with business operations, aswell as improving the quality of life for crew working onboard offshore vessels.

From its 1oWest orbital location, Telenor Satellitedelivers solutions to the main providers of connectivityfor the maritime and offshore markets. Our existing Ku-band beams deliver strong signals and provide optimalcoverage in busy shipping lanes throughout Europe.

The HTS Ka-band payload on THOR 7, delivers thehighest performing satellite payload designed for themaritime market.

Coverage and performanceTHOR 7 targets the North Sea, North Atlantic/Norwegian Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea,Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Mediterranean. Its HTSpayload uses more concentrated spot beams whichdeliver higher performance than a conventional beam.Therefore, Telenor Satellite is able to deliver cost-effective solutions, supporting higher speeds for userswith smaller antennas.

We understand that reliability is crucial to supportmission critical applications. To ensure teleportavailability well above 99.95 percent, Telenor Satellitehas invested in a package of solutions to mitigate rainfade including a secondary uplink site to provideantenna diversity.

Service portfolioSupported by the iDirect next generation VelocityTM

platform, Telenor Satellite is able to offer VNO servicesolutions on its fixed beams, similar to those that weprovide on our Ku-band iDirect platform.

The iDirect platform offers automatic and seamless spotbeam handover; a necessity for a market that reliesupon continuous connectivity. The iDirect platform alsoallows service plans to be designed for large VSAT

service providers as well as smaller resellers andincludes sophisticated bandwidth management of allthe THOR 7 spot beams, allowing bandwidth spreadacross multiple beams to be treated as a single largecapacity pool.

Cobham Satcom and Intellian are Telenor Satellite’s mainantenna partners for the THOR 7 satellite. Both partnersprovide 60cm and 100cm antennas to suit customerspecific requirements, delivering maximum throughputand reliability, even in the most extreme sea conditions.

Service Features Largest pan-European mobility footprint Offering a wide range of bandwidth profiles – 512/

128 Kbps- 24/6 Mbps Seamless spot beam handover One touch commissioning (OTC) which allows

automation of a number of vital networkingcommissioning processes, eliminating timeconsuming manual operations

Operating web-based monitoring tool, PULSE, forcomplete control of your network managementsystem

Rain fade mitigation via physical antennadiversity

Benefits Optimal high-power coverage over busy

European shipping lanes Lower cost solutions for always-on connectivity More available bandwidth for communication

applications A wide choice of fixed service packages to suit

your requirements

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iDirect X7 modem or iDirect CX-700 core module Antennas*:

- Intellian V100Ka and V60 Ka- Cobham Sailor 900 Ka & 600 VSAT Ka

*Telenor Satellite is presently approving additionalmanufacturers, please visit www.telenorsat.com for latestupdates

Terminal Equipment

*FAP (Fair Access Policy) is an iDirect feature allowing controlof volume of Megabytes to be used during a monthly contractsubscription based upon the contracted total CIR per vessel.This will be applied to the service at a later date.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:MIR - Maximum Information Rate, specifies the maximumdata rate available for burst transmissions,provided such bandwidth is available.CIR - Committed Information Rate, is the minimumguaranteed data rate.

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Jan Hetland, CTO Network and Data Systems forTelenor Satellite answers a few key questions on THOR7 and its HTS payload.

Question: How does THOR 7’s payload enable TelenorSatellite to move towards a HTS programme?Jan Hetland: THOR 7 is our first HTS satellite and astrategic move for us as we continue our efforts todevelop our HTS program. The satellite provides botha conventional Ku-band DTH payload as well as theKa-band HTS payload. The Ka-band HTS payloadoffers 8-9 Gbps of throughput, depending on remoteantenna sizes and available transmit power.

The Ka-band payload of THOR 7 will also use 29.5-30.0 GHz of the frequency band for remote uplinkingand 19.7 - 20.2 GHz for downlinking. Additional Ka-band spectrum will be used for specialised applications.The Ka-band payload provides unique coverage overEurope and all associated maritime regions includingthe North Sea, Norwegian Sea, English Channel andthe Mediterranean. In addition, it has some switchablespot beams that can provide coverage over the RedSea, the Middle East, as well as the Atlantic Northwest,though not all at the same time.

Question: What differentiates THOR 7 from otherHTS offerings?Jan Hetland: What makes THOR 7 unique is the factthat it provides regional coverage and utilises relativelysmall spot beams that provide unprecedented high-powered performance for maritime applications. Itincludes several switchable spot beams, as well as asteerable spot beam. For the majority of the spot beams,the allocated transmission power can be adjusted toprovide more power to the beams experiencing thehighest demand for service. Maritime users will typicallyuse all of the fixed spot beams plus, potentially, theswitchable beams. The steerable spot beam will beintended for fixed or semi-stationary users that staywithin the beam.

Question: Which industry markets are you servingand what benefits will HTS deliver to serviceproviders and end users in these markets?Jan Hetland: We have traditionally been a sizeablesupplier of Ku-band satellite capacity to the maritimeuser segment. THOR 7 continues to build on thisheritage and is primarily designed to serve the maritimemobility market. Vessels in the mobility markets suchas offshore oil and gas and shipping are expected toincrease production, cater to crew and keep operatingcosts down to a minimum, all whilst operating in moreremote waters and travelling miles across differentsatellite beams. Crew on these vessels must haveconstant connectivity in these remote areas and beable to utilise the same broadband applications thatare used on land such as accessing email, databasesand Internet. Other applications that require a lot ofbandwidth must also be used to increase productivity.

The THOR 7 Ka-band payload will address theseissues, delivering the highest performing satellitepayload designed for the maritime market. Its aggregatethroughput is more than 5 to 6 six times that ofconventional Ku-band satellites. Combined with a veryfavourable look angle over pan-European waterwaysthis translates to higher bitrates and allows smallerantennas to be used onboard vessels. Also, with theiDirect Velocity platform’s seamless spot beamhandover feature users can enjoy uninterrupted pan-European coverage as if the coverage was a singlewide Ku-band beam.

Question: How will HTS benefit the overall satelliteindustry?Jan Hetland: Conventional wide-beam satellites areideal for broadcasting purposes when you want totransmit the same content to a large geographical area.For almost all other applications, however, one willbenefit from the HTS satellite architecture, simply dueto the much higher throughput levels these satelliteswill provide. This, in turn, lowers the cost of capacity inthe sky and will eventually lower the cost ofcommunication for end-users.

Why THOR 7?

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Bringing down connectivity barriers at seaVSAT technology is a big deal for the maritime industry.VSAT networks have changed the communicationslandscape of the global maritime industry and havepushed it towards modernisation, enabling shippingcompanies to introduce a multitude of operationalenhancements as well as crew welfare packages.

With networks required for a plethora of vesselsincluding container ships, cruise ships, fishing fleetsand oil and gas vessels, there is no shortage of demandfor broadband VSAT to help improve operations and toprovide connectivity for crew and passengers. As thedemand rises, the technology itself is evolving in orderto meet the new and emerging demands placed uponit. The deployment of HTS has pushed manufacturersto develop networks that can support much higherthroughput.

Now that fleet operators and mariners have access tosatellite communications, the whole sector has evolvedand the day-to-day operations within the shippingindustry have been made more efficient. Today, anincreasing number stay connected using VSATnetworks that provide their crew and passengers withhigh-speed Internet access and phone services,monitoring of weather patterns to cut fuel costs, filingregulatory documents and ordering supplies from seato save time in port and generating business intelligencethrough a growing range of software applications. Themodernisation of ship communications has alsoenhanced safety at sea, promoted efficient trade andhas reduced the administrative burden on vesselmasters.

Now, with adoption moving full steam ahead, a newwave of technology and service innovation is set tomake VSAT more affordable and easier to install, whiledelivering greater business value.

According to the fourth edition of the COMSYS MaritimeVSAT Report, more than 20,000 vessels are currentlyonline. The addressable market that once stood around

10,000 vessels has surged to more than 51,000, whichrepresents 71 percent of the total market and equatesto significant growth ahead.

Recent market growth has been very healthy, despitethe global economic downturn. Between 2012 and2013, VSAT installations increased by 25 percent, whileservice revenues grew by 15 percent, now totalling $1.3billion. COMSYS projects significant market growth invessel adoption. By 2018, there will most likely be44,242 vessels with VSAT, more than double COMSYS’last recorded number in 2013. The largest segmentswill be commercial freight at 21,595 vessels, followedby yachts at 6,973 and fishing trawlers at 5,660.

As maritime operators realise the value of VSAT, theyare demanding higher throughput services, and this isdriving revenue growth from the install base. COMSYSreports that VSAT data rates in some segments haveskyrocketed from 10Mb in 2007 to 100Mb in 2013,largely driven by streaming video and bandwidth-intensive business applications.

VSAT technology is growing in value and is undergoingsignificant innovation to make it easier and moreaffordable to deploy. HTS operators are set to debutnext-generation maritime services.

Makers of maritime terminals and antenna systems areintroducing more compact and powerful technologyofferings that improve hardware economics. In addition,application developers are rolling out new offerings thatenable maritime operators to leverage VSAT to runsafer, more intelligent and productive operations.COMSYS states that all this spells good news for themaritime industry. The firm’s latest report concludesthat: “…the market has exploded with greater serviceand airtime innovations, technology developments,hardware price reductions, and more diversity andcompetitiveness amongst operators. … There will bemore choice and value than even before for maritimeoperators.”

THOR 7: a keycommunications asset to themaritime VSAT industry

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The addressable market for THOR 7’s servicesencompasses a range of maritime end-users:

Commercial ShippingCommercial shipping is the single largest growthopportunity for the satellite industry. COMSYS projectsthat commercial freight service revenues will most likelyreach $506 million by 2018, accounting forapproximately one third of the total maritime market.Key applications for growth will be crew welfare,electronic charting and weather, remote IT services andelectronic port and customs documentation. HTSservices could drive significant adoption with bettercoverage, more affordable bandwidth and lower-costequipment.

FishingFishing is another large market by vessel count.COMSYS puts the addressable market at 7,381 with a22.3 percent penetration rate. To date, fishing has beena tough market to crack as most fishing vessels remainwithin cellular coverage or simply are not away fromland long enough to justify the investment in satellite.Despite this fact, the market could grow based on newapplications that bring commerce onboard. Forexample, VSAT connectivity could drive online sales ofcatches and auctions. VSAT could also be leveragedfor regulatory reporting, vessel monitoring andtelemedicine.

Oil & GasOne of the highest adopters of VSAT technology is theoil and gas segment. Downtime on an oil rig comes atan exorbitant cost, so the value proposition for VSAThas never been in question. Today, according toCOMSYS, 100 percent of the world’s oil rigs are runningVSAT networks. This segment is experiencing newgrowth driven by skyrocketing throughput requirements

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Addressable Market forTHOR 7

Julian CrudgeDivisional Director, Network and Data services, Telenor Satellite

to support heavy bandwidth applications. This includesextensive use of live video for rig monitoring and remotecollaboration and the transfer of heavy data files, suchas seismic data. It also extends to asset tracking, crewtraining, systems automation and cloud computing. By2018, COMSYS projects that VSAT service revenuesfor oil rigs will top $285 million and reach $213 millionfor oil and gas maritime vessels, totalling $498 million.

Floating CommunitiesCruise is another segment that has relied on VSAT formany years and now demands continually higher datarates. It’s commonly stated that cruise ships are floatingcommunities, a dense concentration of thousands ofpeople who want to stay connected at the same levelthey’ve come to expect on land. Demand for higherthroughput rates is primarily driven by passengerconnectivity and services. As traffic demands surgeand the number of devices per passenger per shipincreases, cruise liners are upgrading their VSATnetworks to support higher-speed Internet, onboardwireless services, entertainment and streaming video.COMSYS projects that by 2018 the cruise market willbe valued at $135 million in service revenues.

Yachts and Leisure CraftThe yacht and leisure craft markets are growingconsumers of VSAT services as they take advantageof the wide range of benefits they bring. Whether it isused to check on the weather, to enable guests to keepin touch with friends, family or businesses, to gainaccess to safety services or to ensure that crew welfareis addressed, VSAT can deliver fast and reliableservices. As in other maritime sectors, the sameconnectivity experience is expected on sea as on land- VSAT delivers no matter where the users are.

If you are interested in finding out more about THOR 7and the benefits it can offer to your business, pleasevisit www.telenorsat.com.

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ABOUT TELENOR SATELLITETelenor Satellite is a major European satellite provider of broadcastand broadband services for customers in the media, maritime, andoil and gas sectors.

Utilising a hybrid network that comprises our satellite fleet, teleportsand a terrestrial fibre network, Telenor Satellite delivers turnkeybroadcasting solutions, end-user connectivity and applicationservices via satellite throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

From the distribution of digital TV and radio content to millions ofEuropean homes to the provision of reliable communications inremote locations on land and at sea, we are committed to keepingour customers connected via satellite.

Visit www.telenorsat.com