State of Texas Satellite Initiative
Brian Attaway
Texas National Guard
Janice Bruno
State CCG
Feb 18, 2010
State of Texas Satellite Initiative
The State of Texas satellite initiative will be of interest to agencies and
jurisdictions with command posts, communications vans or
communications trailers featuring satellite dishes for Internet and phone
access. Agencies with satellite equipment used to be on their own
when setting up satellite accounts – generally with small, shared
bandwidth for limited time periods and with limited capabilities. Texas is
working to obtain large, dedicated bandwidth and a reliable network
providing high quality service for less money. It will feature
interoperable, common Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone
system, integrated with a Radio-Over-Internet Protocol Land Mobile
Radio (LMR) network. Workshop participants will have an opportunity
to provide input for this initiative, as well as to understand equipment
standards and upgrades needed for participation.
Agenda
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TXMF SatCom Equipment
TXMF Network Capabilities
Bandwidth Comparison
State of Texas Satellite Initiative Proposal
Why is a State Satellite needed
What should it include?
Who should/can participate?
Program Support
Budget & Planning
Summary
Texas National Guard
Texas Interoperable Communications Package (TICP)
Deployable Communications Support Team
6 Thin Clients
4-XTL5000
6 VOIP Phones
Sprint AirRave Cell Site
Command Post Support
• 6 VOIP Phones
• Public Internet & Wi-Fi, 19 drops
• DOD Network, 10 drops
• 6 Computers
• Cisco IPICS Radio Bridge
• VOIP Phone to Radio Bridge
• 4 Motorola XTL5000
• 16ft Command Post Trailer
• On-Board 12kw Diesel Generator
• 40ft pneumatic antenna mast/antennas
Data Rates
DEDICATED- FULL TIME
8Mbps x 4Mbps (6 mos)
4Mbps x 2Mbps (6 mos)
SHARED – 5 DAYS/MONTH
512Kbps x 128 Kbps
14 Systems
3 Systems
TXMF Network
Skyport Teleport
Houston
J6 Current Ops/State CCG
Comparing Satellite Bandwidth
Dedicated and Shared
Data Pipe Size
512kbps
1.5 Mbps
8 Mbps
Data Rates
VOIP
32kbps
VOIP
32kbps
VOIP
32kbps
512 kbps
VTC
384kbps
Why is a State Satellite
Network needed?
A number of agencies with satellite
communications platforms have
 No standards
 No reach back
 Little data capacity
 No Video Tele-Conferencing capability
 Small unreliable satellite circuits that tend to
drop calls
While many agencies do not operate satellite
communications at all
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Why SEON?
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Why is a State Satellite
Network needed?
Results of Survey of State Agencies’ Satellite Technology
The research was collected by contacting each
Texas county and city.
Counties/Cities who previously received
communications grants were targeted to glean
information concerning: current satellite
equipment, bandwidth and annual sat comm.
budget.
The research shows multiple satellite
technologies, shared bandwidth and most state
agencies do not utilize satellites or have a
budget available for satellite use.
Response Overview
36 Respondents
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18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Satellite
Sat
Phones
No
Budget
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What do agencies have
now?
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Objectives
Total communications solution package to equip State agencies and local
governments with an effective, resilient satellite communications
infrastructure and operational support. Significantly improving the
redundancy and scalability of the satellite communications platform.
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Managed by the TXMF and CCG
Supported by the TXMF
infrastructure
Uniform reach-back to a central
location
Effective voice equipment
Broadband Data capability
Effective satellite bandwidth
Interoperable VTC equipment
Ongoing training and support
Equipment standardization
upgrades
Ongoing equipment
maintenance
Backup Teleport
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Enables Voice, Video, and Data
communication between state officials and
local agencies to respond during a disaster
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Rapid Deployment and organization of
Emergency Management efforts
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Improves ability to manage Emergency
Management resources
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Backup teleport provides a high availability
resilient communications solution
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Standardized equipment reduces a long
term cost of ownership
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Achieve economy of scale in obtaining
services
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Objectives
• Achieve economy of scale in obtaining satellite services
including bandwidth, network engineering, equipment
sustainment, training, and support
• Reduce cost for participating agencies
• Obtain better pricing based on limited day-to-day use
• Provide effective, dedicated bandwidth for all agencies
involved in a disaster
• Integrate life cycle sustainment of equipment
• Achieve interagency VOIP and ROIP interoperability
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The State Network
Objective: Simultaneously Support
up to 40 Comm Platforms
Initially, 16 State/Local Comm
Platforms on MOU with State
Migrate 14 TXMF systems into
State Network on 1 Oct
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Program Support
Program Management & Liaison
• In order to provide outstanding support for
participating agencies, the network will
provide a Program Manager & Liaison. This
person will coordinate implementations,
testing and training, and will act as a liaison
between participants and the Network when
necessary.
Optional Maintenance & Support
• Emergency Response Satellite System
mobile units are only as good as the
preventive maintenance program employed
for each unit. “Mission Critical” demands a
reliable, fool-proof Asset Assurance program
to assure that all assets are kept at top
performing levels.
Administrative Support
• In order to minimize resource efforts on the
part of the State of Texas, satellite provider
will provide full accounting, invoicing,
collecting and reporting for the program in
compliance with State of Texas regulations.
Optional Training
• A training course is designed to boost
satellite communication operational skills
and intended for those who have a limited
knowledge of satellite services, network,
operations and hardware — which is
essential in increasing effective, productive
communications to emergency responders.
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Standard Parts List is available – from
which, agencies can select equipment
designed to meet specific needs.
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Summary
The Problem
 Agencies have little to no budget
for satellite communications
 A number of agencies currently
holding satellite communications
have:
– No standards
– No reach back
– Inadequate bandwidth
– No Video Tele-Conferencing
capability
– Small unreliable satellite
circuits that tend to drop
calls
 While many agencies do not
operate with satellite
communication at all
The State Network
 State of Texas provides
dedicated satellite capacity
 The State network offers
mission critical bandwidth for
VOIP, Video and VTC.
 Participating agency provides
and manages the vehicles
 Satellite provider upgrades
and sustains equipment
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Status
• TDEM has allocated funding through
hurricane season for Phase I migration
• CCG developing statement of work to
obtain quotes from DIR vendor(s)
• Vendor(s) developing business model
Brian Attaway
[email protected]
512-782-6946
Janice Bruno
[email protected]
512-377-0029