SADISOPSG/9-WP/26

28/4/04

SATELLITE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATIONS GROUP (SADISOPSG)

NINTH MEETING

Dakar, Senegal, 1 to 4 June 2004

Agenda Item	5:	Development of the SADIS

SADIS IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

(Presented by ASECNA)

SUMMARY

This paper reviews the development of the operational concept of SADIS 2G and recommend to delay its implementation.

1.	INTRODUCTION

1.1	The Group will recall that SADISOPSG/8 Meeting had endorsed Conclusions 8/12 inviting the SADIS Provider State to complete the SADIS second-generation (SADIS 2G) reception trials, and 8/13 (with draft Conclusion) inviting the PIRGs to note the plan to discontinue the current SADIS two-way VSAT programme as of 1 January 2004 and finally Decision 8/14 inviting an ad hoc working group to develop the operational concept for the second-generation SADIS two-way system (SADIS 2G+).

1.2	This paper reviews the SADIS 2G implementation proposals and the development of the operational concept of the SADIS 2G+ and recommend to delay their implementation.

2.	DISCUSSION

2.1	Implementation of the SADIS 2G

2.1.1	SADISOPSG/7 Meeting endorsed the proposal by the SADIS Provider State to uplink SADIS 2G carrier in view of its undeniable benefits: an improvement of satellite performance, a future reduction in required bandwidth an cost and a wider market for the supply of cost-effective receiving equipment.

2.1.2	The Group realised a major implementation constraint of the SADIS 2G: it was realised that the SADIS 2G implementation would mean that all the VSAT stations would have to be changed over the next few years. Furthermore, there would be cost implementations at the system level, mainly related to the establishment of an operational infrastructure. The SADIS Provider State estimated that the SADIS 2G could be operational by this SADISOPG/9 Meeting (2004).

2.1.3	Therefore, it's clear that the immediate implementation of the SADIS 2G will lead to important investments by SADIS users.

2.2	Discontinuation of the Current SADIS Two-way VSAT Programme

2.2.1	The group will recall that according to APIRG/9 Conclusion 9/26, the Cost Recovery Administrative Group (SCRAG) of the SADIS, provided the state of Senegal with a 2-way SADIS VSAT. ASECNA, which is the organization in charge of SADIS implementation for Senegal, achieved transportation, installation, commissioning and training costs.

2.2.2	Following a significant period of negotiation, and some difficulties with customs arrangements in Senegal, the 2-way VSAT SADIS was successfully installed in Dakar on 09 April 2002 and become operational on 01 Jun 2002 after two weeks trials.

2.2.3	Unfortunately the SADIS Provider State suggested that the existing two-way programme was unable to meet the requirements of increasing the quantity of OPMET data available for SADIS uplink or improving its timeliness of availability in a cost-effective manner.

2.2.4	So by its Decision 8/13 (followed by a draft Conclusion) SADISOPSG/8 invited the PIRGs to note the plan to discontinue the current SADIS two-way VSAT programme as of 1 January 2004.

2.2.5	Following this decision, the Dakar SADIS two-way VSAT programme was discontinued on 1 January 2004 after only one year of operations and despite the substantial financial efforts made by ASECNA to establish an operational two-way station in Dakar.

2.2.6	To avoid such a disappointed failure, a clear operational concept for the first generation SADIS 2w should have been developed with a plan of a clear scale of implementation.

2.3	Development of the Second Generation SADIS
Two-way VSAT Programme (SADIS 2G+)

2.3.1	It was considered that the SADIS second-generation two-way programme (hereafter referred to as "SADIS 2G+") would be a step forward in resolving the long-standing issue of missing OPMET data. The group realized that the SADIS 2G+ would be quite different from the current two-way programme, the discontinuation of which the group had earlier endorsed. The SADIS 2G+ was considered to be attractive based on the following arguments:

a)	the price of the VSAT would be lower than a present-generation one- way VSAT; and

b)	The SADIS 2G+ will be compatible with BUFR-coded OPMET data and with BUFR-coded SWL and SWM forecasts.

2.3.2	But in view of the failure of the first-generation two-way programme a fundamental prerequisite of a genuine operational requirement of SADIS 2G+ has to be considered. Furthermore, an assessment of the impact of SADIS 2G+ on the OPMET traffic and operating costs should be undertaken.

2.3.3	It was also recognised that the encoding of OPMET data in the BUFR code form was still years away and that, when implemented, the proposed solution could well rely on obsolete technology. Moreover, the future role of the Internet in the OPMET exchange could change the situation.

3.	CONCLUSION

3.1	Despite the undeniable benefits of implementing the SADIS 2G, the immediate implementation of the SADIS 2G will lead to important investments by SADIS users and states in replacing all current SADIS one-way VSAT and software. Furthermore, the current SADIS one-way VSAT are still efficient and their operations satisfactory based on the yearly survey on the operational efficacy of the SADIS.

3.2	Moreover, in view of the failure of the first-generation two-way programme a fundamental precautions have to be taken before the implementation of SADIS 2G+

3.3	Therefore the group should agree to delay the implementation of the SADIS 2G and 2G+.

4.	ACTION BY THE SADISOPSG

4.1	The SADISOPSG is invited to:

a)	note the information included in this paper; and

b)	recommend that the implementation of the SADIS 2G and SADIS 2G+ be delayed for at least five years to allow users and states to spread this investment on several years.

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