Answer Happy

1. Task You are tasked with analyzing available satellite networking technologies that will perform all core functions of the company's service platform for the next 10 years and recommending the platform that provides the greatest value for the company. 2. Narrative The existing infrastructure has reached its useful end-of-life and needs to be replaced. Newer technology has made significant steps in its efficiencies and the company needs to ensure it makes the right decision to take the business into the next decade. There are three (3) major brands on the market that are under consideration. Other, perhaps more cutting-edge systems have been eliminated from consideration because the shareholders are not prepared to take risks on non-performance with unproven technology. These three brands each have proven track records of performance over time, but with controlled improvements in performance coupled with effective support for when things go awry. The three systems are: a) System Omega (Omega): 20+ years of increasingly sophisticated advancements in satellite networking technology. Company's target markets include Federal Law Enforcement and the Military. (Attachment 1) b) OTT Satellite Technologies (OTT): 30+ years of development in satellite networking technology based on a successful platform for point-to-point technology prevalent in the 1990s. Business is focused on business-to-business applications. (Attachment 2) c) Storm Communications (Storm): A newer entrant to the satellite networking technology market with a consumer-based platform focused on supporting thousands of remotes simultaneously, including point-of-sale networks for retail outlets. (Attachment 3) Each of these three systems have unique operating characteristics and networking performance standards. A data sheet for each system is attached for reference. 3. User base Our current user base comprises a number of older (legacy) systems that represent users that have been with us for many years and users operating on newer equipment that operate at higher perform levels. It is anticipated that, over time, our older users will either stop using our services or will eventually upgrade to the new system we install. a) Our active user rate (the number of current users on our system) follows this annual trend: a) Starting point: we have 4,000 older users (R1) and 2,200 newer users (R2). b) We lose 500 older users (R1) for a variety of reasons (leave to use competitor's technology, moving house where cable systems are available, or simply people disconnect from our services for price or other reasons).
c) In addition, we upgrade 250 of our older users (R1) to new systems (R2) on our service platform d) We gain 1,000 new users through our marketing and sales efforts and install newer systems in each (R2). 4. Satellite Technical Specifications a) The satellite systems under consideration consist of several transponders that we can access. We can choose a combination of the following available transponders, with reference to the size of the transponder and the annual cost of each transponder. Transponder Annual Cost ($) Available Transponders Transponder Transponder Size Identifier (MHz) 1 27 2 36 3 36 4 36 5 54 6 54 7 72 $1.07 M $1.21 M $1.23 M $1.40 M $1.80 M $1.91 M $2.05 M 3 2 1 1 1 1 5. Simplified Transmission Equation DR BW = - 1 x X SF FEC - ME Legend: BW is the analogue frequency spectrum occupied by a data carrier (MHz - Megahertz) DR is the digital data rate of the carrier (Mbps - Megabits per second) MF is the modulation factor of the carrier FEC is the forward error correction SF is the spacing factor Note: See Attachments 1, 2 and 3 for the specific operating parameters for each system under consideration 6. Modulation Factor Table Modulation Factor Binary Phase Shift Keying BPSK 1 Quadrature Phase Shift Keying QPSK 2 Eight Phase Shift Keying 8PSK 3
7. Exam Deliverables There are several questions we must first answer about each system to enable us to perform a detailed comparison of the relative performance metrics that will aid our decision-making. a) What is the potential data throughput of each network system to R1 and R2 remotes? [Use the simplified version of the transmission equation for your analysis.] i) Note the operating options for R1 and R2 remotes as detailed in the Attachments for each Satellite Networking System (Attachments 1, 2 and 3) b) How many remotes of each type can be supported by each system on each transponder? [Suggest you detail out (in a table format) how many Type R1 and how many type R2 remotes can be supported in each transponder listed.] c) How many years until we have no more R1 users? d) At the point in time (tı) we have no more R1 users, how many R2 users will we have? e) At time tı, how many transponders will we have to have and in what configuration? [How many transponders of what size will we need at that point?] f) What will be our annual transponder cost at time tı? g) What will the R2 users need to pay each month to enable the company to break even? [i.e. cost = revenue at time tı] h) What is your final recommendation of which system to adopt for our next generation satellite network platform?