1.
The satellite communications industry is entering a new phase of growth. Today,
wave after wave of High Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity is transforming
satellite economics and creating vast market opportunities. And we are now
seeing the emergence of Ultra High Throughput Satellites (UHTS) and the DVB-S2X
standard to drive unprecedented gains in performance and efficiency.
How satellite operators and service providers leverage HTS and DVB-S2X
technology will largely determine how they capitalize on growth opportunities.
And as they plan their migration forward, they must consider what ground
infrastructure capabilities will equip them with the greatest competitive advantage.
How will their platform address the constant need for higher throughput? Can the
platform manage scale at the right cost and pace? Will it equip you to be ever-ready
for new changes coming from every direction and in rapid succession — such as
new network applications, new end-user markets and the next wave of satellites?
Here are five critical points to consider for harnessing HTS and DVB-S2X
to its fullest and being ready for the future of our industry.
Five Considerations for Choosing
a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
1Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.
Enable Higher
Capacity Efficiencies
Implement Intelligent
Terminals
Scale Cost-Effectively
Enable Mainstream
Network Integration
Make it Mobile

2.
HTS, when combined with the right remote RF
capabilities, delivers higher efficiencies and
performance, effectively lowering the cost per bit
of satellite capacity. The key to reaching the highest
gains though, is to implement the highest possible
MODCODs and saturate the wideband transponders
— oftentimes with optimal carrier configurations.
The DVB-S2X standard defines higher modulations
ranging up to 256APSK and standardized roll-off
factors down from 20% to 5%. The right ground
infrastructure platform should offer all these
choices and provide full Adaptive Coding and
Modulation (ACM) capabilities not just on the
outbound, but also provide adaptivity on the
inbound to harness the larger HTS transponders
in the most efficient way.
With the introduction of Ultra High Throughput
Satellite (UHTS), a platform must support even
larger transponders (500 MHz) with highly efficient
carrier configurations utilizing new transmission
methods such as DVB-S2X superframes and time
slicing to maximize efficiencies and throughput at
the remote side.
Another important measure of bandwidth
performance is how well a platform can source
and allocate satellite capacity across many spot
beams. Look for a solution that can integrate any
type of capacity into a global bandwidth pool,
and then enables you to dynamically allocate
bandwidth as needed to create tiered Service
Level Agreements (SLAs). The ability to create
highly flexible and customized service plans in
a shared bandwidth pool will allow you to sell
different services and monetize their capacity in
the most effective way.
When DVB-S2X is implemented to its fullest,
satellite operators can design next-generation
architectures with features like beam hopping
to adjust their payloads based on real-time
demand on the ground. This capability will drive
revolutionary efficiency gains in the years ahead.
Intelligent payloads require the integration of
ground and space infrastructures to measure and
respond to demand. So when satellite operators
are designing their next-generation payloads,
they need a ground infrastructure partner that can
support intelligent payloads on their platforms.
Enable Higher Capacity Efficiencies
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
2Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.
1
0
2
3
4
5
6
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
C/N (dB)
SpectralEfficiency(bps/Hz)
Extended SNR
More FEC
Choices
Higher
MODCODs
Range (high)
S2 (RO=20%)
S2X (RO=5%)
S2 (RO=5%)

3.
The remote design enabled with full DVB-S2X
capabilities is a critical aspect of delivering
performance and efficiency gains to the
overall solution.
Traditionally, satellite remote performance
and features were over-engineered to future
capabilities to avoid having to swap out the
remotes soon after rollout. The features were
largely encoded in hardware, and pay-as-you-
grow, while well established for various hub-side
capabilities, were not available for remotes. As
such, the latest remotes carry a high cost to operate
and could become a network’s single greatest cost
factor when rolling out large networks.
Today, service providers need a remote solution
that’s engineered with a high degree of flexibility
to adapt to changing requirements while only
paying for the capabilities that you really need
at any given time. Through software-defined and
reprogrammable remote architectures, the next
generation of remotes can be continually upgraded
over the air to increase network capabilities and
throughput levels, while dramatically extending
the deployment life in the field.
This software-defined architecture also allows to
incorporate support for other waveforms in the
future, whether for working more efficiently on
different GEO HTS platforms or different orbits
such as MEO and LEO altogether.
A related architectural change in the remote
design is called edge computing, where remotes
combine the manufacturer’s core technology
with third-party applications to create one-box
solutions. This extends remote field life while
providing rapid access to new capabilities that
can drive revenue. Plus, these solutions reduce the
hardware and energy footprint, lower deployment
costs and better meet service requirements.
Look for a provider with a full range of remote
capabilities and form factors that operate on a
common platform across all markets.
SOFTWARE-
DEFINED
ARCHITECTURE
INCREASED
NETWORK
CAPACITY
EMBEDDED
THIRD-PARTY
SOFTWARE
Implement Intelligent Terminals
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
3Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.

4.
With this bandwidth management capabilities
optimized for HTS multi-spot beam operation,
satellite operators now have the flexibility to sell
wholesale capacity, offer managed Mbps services
or offer vertically integrated solutions that
encompass the entire value chain. As for service
providers, they now have the ability to choose
from different business models while managing a
blended capacity and managed services portfolio
all on one platform.
3
When it comes to scaling a satellite communications
network, hub-side infrastructure is one of the
largest capital expenses service providers face. In
fact, the infrastructure decision can make or break
the ability to profitably expand, enter new markets
and introduce new services.
With HTS and DVB-S2X, this reality has reached a
new level of importance. With greater demand for
higher throughputs and more satellite bandwidth
comes the need to deploy and manage large-scale
networks. Network operators need to change the
cost model for ground infrastructure deployment,
keeping up with demand without dramatically
increasing capital and operating expenses.
Today, there are key advances in gateway
technology. Consider hub solutions leveraging
virtualization for processing capabilities that
significantly increase the teleport’s capabilities
to support extensive networks and higher
throughputs in the same space. When you can
achieve greatly improved density, it results in a
massive footprint reduction, decreasing cooling
and IT management expenses.
Operating large networks spanning multiple spot
beams versus one wide beam can make scaling
more challenging for service providers, especially
when expanding into new service areas.
Scale Cost-Effectively
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
4Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.
With the right bandwidth management
capabilities, satellite operators can manage Mbps
across multiple spot beams and create a virtual
bandwidth pool for service providers to use.
This will allow service providers to not have to
operate many spot beams but instead use the
advantages of virtual network operations and
still be in control of their own SLAs and service
offerings to their end customers.

5.
4
Today, satellite connectivity is undergoing
a technology and business transformation,
overcoming barriers of interoperability to
become part of mainstream converged services
and dramatically expand its role in the global
communications landscape. And because HTS is
transforming the economics of satellite service,
operators can strongly position satellite as a viable
part of the end-to-end network.
The key to full mainstream adoption is for satellite
networks to be defined by modern telco standards
such as 4G/5G and Evolved Packet Core (EPC). A
satellite platform should also support Layer 2 over
Satellite (L2oS) capabilities. This offers the option
to run a network in a Layer 2 bridging mode with
high efficiency as an alternative to the traditional
Layer 3 mode architecture. This allows a variety of
modern, converged network architectures to be
implemented, with easy integration with terrestrial
networks and the ability to pass any Layer 3
protocol desired.
A platform that can take advantage of virtualized
components and share virtual environments
with cellular and telco functions such as Network
Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software-
defined Networking (SDN) should also be a strong
factor to move towards converged networks and
enabling the unification of different networks
through virtualized functions that allow for
devices to roam across any access network.
And for true integration, a satellite platform’s
management system must sync with a carrier’s
existing Operational Support Systems (OSS) and
Business Support Systems (BSS). Through full OSS/
BSS integration, with the help of APIs, it’s easier
to scale operations. The ultimate goal is a fully
automated, programmable and orchestrated
network that delivers service on demand to meet
any requirement rapidly and cost-effectively.
Enable Mainstream Network Integration
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
5Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.

6.
5
Combining HTS with mobility applications
presents a major challenge when it comes to
managing complex SLAs across a large coverage
area that spans multiple spot beams. Consider a
scenario where hundreds of airplanes or maritime
vessels demand different bandwidth levels as they
travel frequently across spot beams and distribute
bandwidth to diverse users onboard running
dynamic applications without major service
interruptions.
Meeting the needs of mobility networks requires
several specialized technologies. Look for a
platform with a robust feature that can enable
seamless connectivity in a high-speed mobility
environment. This includes the ability for fast
beam switching with no manual intervention
across multiple satellite footprints in a high-speed
environment. Internet sessions should not be
interrupted as the plane moves through several
beams on a flight. Features such as Doppler
compensation, fast reacquisition after blockage
and make-before-break are all working in sync to
increase the seamless user experience.
In the future, ensuring seamless and consistent
global coverage will require provider-to-provider
service roaming. A ground infrastructure
provider should therefore have a plan to offer
this capability – enabling a customer to roam
from a home network to a guest network while
maintaining home service plans.
Make it Mobile
Fast Beam
Switching
High-speed
COTM
Network
Roaming
Bandwidth
Management
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
6Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.

7.
iDirect’s technology strategy enables our customers to deliver the highest speed, the greatest
efficiency and operate the most cost-effective networks over HTS and DVB-S2X.
The iDirect Solution: HTS and DVB-S2X
DVB-S2X Software and Hub Hardware. The transition to DVB-S2X starts with the new software release that enables
the existing Universal Line Card to run in DVB-S2X mode, in Evolution® or iDirect Velocity® networks. These line
cards operate in our existing Universal Hub chassis and support up to 119 Msps (or 125 MHz) in DVB-S2X mode with
MODCODs up to 256APSK to achieve greater throughput on the same amount of bandwidth.
iQ Remote Series. The iQ Series is iDirect’s next-generation DVB-S2/DVB-S2X remote portfolio that features a
programmable ASIC chipset, customized to exploit the capabilities of the DVB-S2X standard and optimized for iDirect’s
highest performing Adaptive TDMA waveform. The iQ Series brings unprecedented performance in a futureproof
software-defined architecture design. The iQ Series is designed to meet the needs of both fixed and mobility networks
within a wide range of performance scenarios and software licensing features for pay-as-you-grow features. The iQ
Series is targeted for broadband, enterprise and mobility applications and will be packaged in desktop, board-level
and rack-mount form factors.
iQ Desktop
Intelligent Gateway
iDirect Intelligent Gateway. Featuring up to four powerful blades in a fully redundant virtualized configuration, the
Intelligent Gateway supports dozens of protocol processors (PPs), while future proofing the gateway infrastructure
for large-scale growth of your networks. The greatly improved density at the teleport results in a massive footprint
reduction, decreasing cooling and IT management expenses, while vastly improving performance.
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
7Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.
ULC-R
ULC-T

8.
Edge computing. Bringing greater intelligence to the customer edge boosts opportunity for software-defined service models. iDirect is adding
embedded computing capabilities to our remotes so service providers can couple iDirect’s leading-class technology with third-party applications
to create one-box solutions. This extends remote field life while providing rapid access to new capabilities that can drive revenue. Plus, the
solutions reduce the hardware and energy footprint, lower deployment costs and better meet service requirements.
iDirect mobility. Features advanced mobility capabilities so that fast-moving remote terminals can automatically cross multiple spot beams
within a short period of time while maintaining a seamless IP session.
Global bandwidth management: Enables operators to manage a single bandwidth pool to ensure a customer’s complex SLAs across a large
coverage area spanning multiple spot beams. This includes load-balancing options for optimized spot-beam management in mobility networks.
Flexible core architecture. Manage an increasingly diverse and integrated network portfolio that comprises multiple satellites, frequency bands,
market applications and network technologies, and optimized for offering different forms of managed service offerings.
Modular design for scalability. A hub chassis, which is designed to be populated with network line cards that can be upgraded with licensable
features, enables HTS operators to increase throughput rates based on network demands.
Superior network management. A comprehensive Network Management System (NMS) to manage large-scale deployments, monitor network
activity, drive profitability and integrate with third-party network management and operational support systems through open APIs.
Five Considerations for Choosing a HTS/DVB-S2X Platform
8Copyright © 2017 VT iDirect. All Rights Reserved.
More than ever, satellite operators need a platform that can deliver the right
throughput rate at the right cost, run large networks cost-effectively, deploy
new services rapidly- and continually stay ahead of the pace of technology.
They need a platform that’s highly reliable, that can position them to serve any
geography or vertical market and with advanced tools to run a tight operation.
And they need a technology they can invest in smartly - entering the market
affordably, capturing revenue quickly and scaling in line with business demand.
A ground infrastructure platform must be designed to address the broad diversity
of requirements and opportunities represented by HTS and DVB-S2X. Your goal
should be to invest in a single platform, not multiple solutions, that will create the
greatest landscape of opportunity. And continuity is crucial; invest in a platform
that protects and builds on your current technology investment. Consider iDirect
as the right choice for your next DVB-S2X platform.
A New Model for Your Success
Find out more at www.IntelligentPathForward.com
The iDirect Solution: HTS and DVB-S2X