OEM Integration into Satellite Terminals
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Integration Value
Integration Challenges
Compression and encryption present another challenge for satellite communications. Ideally, satellite traffic should be compressed to optimize limited bandwidth, but encrypted traffic is difficult to compress. By integrating encryption into the satellite transceiver, the solution can compress planned text traffic and then encrypt the resulting output for transmission over the satellite link.
OEM Benefits
Why Fortress?
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Satellite communications offer the benefit of nearly ubiquitous access anywhere on the planet. Because satellite communications do not rely on fixed ground infrastructure, they are often the fastest means to provide communications in remote locations. However, satellite terminals are expensive and are not integrated into end-user networking devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. To extend satellite network services to these devices, additional networking equipment is required. To extend network service to mobile devices, a wireless LAN is the obvious choice, and IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi® is the commercial standard for wireless networking. In addition, satellite communications must be compressed and encrypted.
An integrated solution provides many benefits to the end user over separate equipment, including SWaP, ease-of-deployment, and cost. The satellite and Wi-Fi transceivers can be housed in the same enclosure, reducing the size and weight of the solution, and allowing them to share a common power supply. This also improves the portability of the solution, which is especially important in mobile environments. The entire solution is also easier to set up and configure, because many IP networking parameters, such as addresses and routing information, can be shared or automatically configured between the components. In addition, network cables do not have to be run between the devices. The solution is also less expensive because of the reduction of unnecessary and redundant parts such as enclosures, power supplies, switches and cables. An integrated solution can also allow the satellite terminals to share information between each other, to provide load balancing and failover in a larger network.
In selecting a solution, a system integrator must consider the customer requirements that must be met. In the Department of Defense (DoD), these include durability and security. The solution must be designed to operate in harsh environments anywhere in the world, and thus must meet applicable military standards such as MIL-STD-410G, while also not allowing electromagnetic interference (EMI) between the satellite and Wi-Fi communications. The solution must also meet DoD security requirements including FIPS 140-2 validated encryption and Suite B. In addition, the solution must be modular and allow an upgrade path to future Wi-Fi technology innovations.
An OEM with a well-integrated Wi-Fi networking and encryption solution can present a truly differentiated offering from the competition. The solution will be lower cost, lower SWaP, and easier to deploy and maintain than competing multi-product offerings. By supporting Wi-Fi with layer 2 and layer 3 encryption, an integrated solution also provides additional product, service, and support revenue to the OEM.
Fortress Technologies can provide the best technology and support for integrating Wi-Fi and wireless encryption technology into OEM platforms, allowing the OEM to focus on its core business. Fortress products are Wi-Fi certified to ensure interoperability with other