Attachment Attachment 1

This document pretains to SES-LIC-20120427-00404 for License on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESLIC2012042700404_950366

ViaSat, Inc.


                                           Attachment 1

                                      Technical Description

Network

                The proposed terminals will operate in the same SurfBeam 2 Ka-band network as
residential customers using the fixed VSAT equipment authorized under call sign E100143.
Building upon its experience with Ku-band based AMSS and ESV mobile broadband, ViaSat has
incorporated the functions necessary to support mobility into the management functions of the
SurfBeam 2 network. The network allows the aircraft to fly across the service area and
seamlessly switch from spot beam to spot beam within the current operational satellite and to
switch between satellites as coverage dictates.

               Generally, when within the coverage footprint of ViaSat-1, the terminals will
operate using ViaSat-1 spot beams to take advantage of its higher power and G/T and thereby
enjoy improved throughput. As the aircraft flies across areas not supported by ViaSat-1, the
AES will switch to capacity on the WildBlue-1 or Anik-F2 spacecraft.

                  The link budgets in Tables 1 and 2 below are included to illustrate typical links on
each of the satellites. Because the SurfBeam 2 architecture employs adaptive coding and
modulation, the terminals could transmit at any code and modulation point within the library of
available choices. The available symbol rates are 625,000 symbols per second, or kilobaud
(kBd), 1.25 MBd, 2.5 MBd, 5 MBd, and 10 MBd. The maximum clear sky e.i.r.p. density in
Form 312 uses the 625 kBd rate. However, the 625 kBd symbol rate is used primarily for
network ranging and login. Service traffic typically uses the 1.25 MBd or higher symbol rates.
While the service may be operational while on the ground, in general operation will be while the
aircraft is in flight and above most rain attenuation. Tables 1 and 2 demonstrate that no margin
shortfalls are present for clear sky operation.

               The SurfBeam 2 architecture is designed to always operate at the lowest power
density modulation and code point that allows the link to close. The network employs active
power control and reduces power when conditions permit, keeping the Es/No margin at 1 dB or
less. When the modem has sufficient excess transmit capability, it will automatically switch to
the next symbol rate and increase data rate, keeping the e.i.r.p. density at the minimum. This
further reduces the likelihood that the system will impact traffic on other satellites.


  ViaSat, Inc.


General:                                      Units    ViaSat‐1         VS‐1 High Band   VS‐1 Low Band   VS‐1 High Band   VS‐1 Low Band     WB‐1           AF‐2
                                                                          416.7 MBd        416.7 MBd        52 MBd           52 MBd        22 MBd        22 MBd
            Symbol Rate                       MBd       416.7                416.7           416.7             52.0            52.0          22.0          22.0
            Data rate                         Mbps      550.9                412.0           550.9             51.4            68.8          43.6          43.6
            Modulation and Coding Rate                QPSK, r=2/3        QPSK, r=1/2      QPSK, r=2/3     QPSK, r=1/2      QPSK, r=2/3    8PSK, r=2/3   8PSK, r=2/3
            Carrier Bandwidth                 MHz       500.0                500.0           500.0             62.4            62.4          26.4          26.4
            Uplink Frequency                  GHz       28.60                29.75           28.60            29.75           28.60         29.75         29.75
            Downlink Frequency                GHz       18.80                19.95           18.80            19.95           18.80         19.95         19.95
Uplink:
            Tx E/S EIRP per Carrier           dBW        65.2                67.0             65.2            58.0             56.2          74.0          68.0
            Atmospheric and Rain Losses        dB        0.50                0.50             0.50            0.50             0.50          0.50          0.50
            Free Space Loss                    dB       213.3               213.6            213.3           213.6            213.3         213.3         214.0
            G/T toward Tx E/S                 dB/K       24.2                24.1             24.2            24.1             24.2          13.0          15.0
            C/I ‐ Intra System                 dB        22.9                21.3             22.9            21.3             22.9          19.2          19.1
Downlink:
            EIRP per carrier towards Rx E/S   dBW        60.7                59.1             60.7            50.1             51.7          53.6          52.0
            Rx E/S Pointing Loss               dB        0.3                 0.3              0.3             0.3              0.3           0.5           0.5
            Atmospheric and Rain Losses        dB        0.5                 0.5              0.5             0.5              0.5           0.5           0.5
            Free Space Loss                    dB       209.3               209.8            209.3           209.8            209.3         209.8         209.8
            Rx E/S G/T incl. radome           dB/K       12.0                12.5             12.0            12.5             12.0          12.5          12.5
            C/I ‐ Intra System                 dB        16.0                16.2             16.0            16.2             16.0          15.9          17.9
End‐to‐
End:
            C/N ‐ Thermal Uplink               dB        18.0                19.4            18.0             19.4            18.0           28.4          23.7
            C/I Up ‐ ASI                       dB        29.1                30.5            29.1             30.5            29.1           43.4          38.7
            C/N ‐ Thermal Downlink             dB        5.0                 3.4             5.0              3.4             5.0            10.5          8.9
            C/I Down ‐ ASI                     dB        20.8                19.1            20.8             19.1            20.8           32.5          30.9
            C/(N+I) ‐ Total Actual             dB        4.3                 2.9             4.3              2.9             4.3            8.9           7.8
            C/N ‐ Required                     dB        3.6                 1.6             3.6              1.6             3.6            7.2           7.2
            Excess Margin                      dB        0.7                 1.3             0.7              1.3             0.7            1.7           0.6
                                                                  Table 1 – Forward Link Budgets


           ViaSat, Inc.


General:                                  Units     VS‐1 10 MBd     VS‐1 1.25 MBd   VS‐1 625 kBd    WB‐1 5 Msps     WB‐1 1.25 MBd   WB‐1 625 kBd    AF2 5 MBd      AF2 1.25 MBd    AF2 625 kBd
                                                    Beam Interior   Edge of Beam    Edge of Beam    Beam Interior   Edge of Beam    Edge of Beam   Beam Interior   Edge of Beam   Edge of Beam
             Satellite Location            °E          ‐115.1           ‐115.1          ‐115.1         ‐111.1          ‐111.1          ‐111.1         ‐111.1          ‐111.1          ‐111.1
             Symbol Rate                  MBd          10.00             1.25           0.625            5.00            1.25           0.625           5.00            1.25           0.625
             Datarate                     Mbps         12.50             2.19            1.25            5.00            1.25           0.94            5.00            1.25            0.94
             Modulation/Coding Rate                  QPSK, r=5/8    8‐PSK, r=7/12    8‐PSK, r=2/3    QPSK, r=1/2     QPSK, r=1/2     QPSK, r=3/4    QPSK, r=1/2     QPSK, r=1/2    QPSK, r=3/4
             Carrier Bandwidth            MHz            12.5           1.5625         0.78125           6.25          1.5625         0.78125           6.25          1.5625         0.78125
             Uplink Frequency             GHz           28.60            29.75          29.75           29.75           29.75           29.75          29.75           29.75           29.75
             Downlink Frequency           GHz          18.80             19.95          19.95          19.95            19.95          19.95           19.95           19.95           19.95
Uplink:
             Tx E/S EIRP per Carrier      dBW           44.8            43.7            43.7             43.7            41.6          41.2            43.7            41.7           41.3
             Radome Loss                   dB           1.2              1.2            1.2              1.2             1.2            1.2            1.2             1.2            1.2
             Tx E/S EIRP Density        dBW/40kHz       19.6            27.5            30.5             23.9            27.9          30.5            23.9            27.9           30.5
             Tx E/S Ant Pointing Loss      dB           0.7              0.7            0.7              0.7             0.7            0.7            0.7             0.7            0.7
             Atmospheric/Rain Loss         dB           0.5              0.5            0.5              0.5             0.5            0.5            0.5             0.5            0.5
             Free Space Loss               dB          212.9            213.3          213.3            213.3           213.3          213.3          213.3           213.3          213.3
             G/T toward Tx E/S            dB/K          22.7            18.0            18.0             16.0            12.0          12.0            16.0            12.0           12.0
             C/I ‐ Intra System            dB           18.2            15.9            16.3             15.5            15.5          15.5            17.5            17.5           17.5
Downlink:
             EIRP/cxr towards Rx E/S      dBW           39.2            33.2            30.2             35.1            29.0          26.0            35.9            29.9           26.9
             Atmospheric/Rain Loss         dB           0.5              0.5            0.5              0.5             0.5            0.5            0.5             0.5            0.5
             Free Space Loss               dB          209.4            209.9          209.9            209.3           209.3          209.3          209.2           209.2          209.2
             Rx E/S Antenna
             Diameter                      m            7.3              7.3            7.3             8.1             8.1              8.1           8.1             8.1            8.1
             Rx E/S G/T                   dB/K          37.4            37.9            37.9            39.0            39.0            39.0           38.3            38.3           38.3
             C/I ‐ Intra System            dB           15.0            15.0            15.6            16.4            16.4            16.4           15.1            15.1           15.1
End‐to‐
End:
             C/N ‐ Thermal Uplink          dB           9.7             12.6            15.6            8.0             8.0             10.6           8.0             8.0            10.6
             C/I Up ‐ ASI                  dB           11.8            14.6            17.6            9.8             9.8             12.4           10.3            10.3           12.9
             C/N ‐ Thermal Downlink        dB           25.3            28.3            28.3            25.9            25.9            25.9           26.2            26.2           26.2



                                                                                                    3


ViaSat, Inc.


  C/I Down ‐ ASI           dB   35.4   38.4       38.4          22.6          22.6   22.6   21.2   21.2   21.2
  C/(N+I) ‐ Total Actual   dB   6.5     8.3       10.1          4.9           4.9     6.9   5.1    5.1    7.1
  C/N ‐ Required           dB   4.2     7.2       8.6           2.6           2.6     5.8   2.6    2.6    5.8
  Excess Margin            dB   2.3     1.1       1.5           2.3           2.3     1.1   2.4    2.4    1.2

                                              Table 2 – Return Link Budgets




                                                           4


ViaSat, Inc.


Antenna and Pointing Accuracy

               The antenna used in this application is a low profile waveguide horn array. The
Mantarry M40 is a mechanically steered waveguide horn array antenna. The M40 designation
reflects the number of feed horns across the width of the aperture. The M40 shown in Figure 1 is
40 horns wide with several horns at the upper corners of the array deleted to provide radome
clearance. The height of the array is 15.75 cm and the width is 78.75 cm.




                             Figure 1 – Mantarry M40 Front View

               These antennas have two transmit receive interface adapters (TRIA), one for each
polarization. The TRIAs are similar in design to the outdoor units used on ViaSat’s current
blanket licensed earth station (call sign E100143), but modified for airborne use and with slightly
higher output power. The TRIA feeds a passive feed network which divides and routes the
power to each of the feed horns in the array.

               The Mantarry antenna will be fuselage mounted typically as depicted in Figure 2
and will be covered by a radome.1

                The terminal is directed toward the intended satellite by the antenna control unit
(ACU), which receives input data from the inertial reference unit (IRU) that is part of the
avionics navigation system of the aircraft. This input includes information, such as the current
latitude, longitude, altitude, pitch, roll and yaw. The antenna control unit uses this information to
calculate the initial pointing angles and polarization for the antenna to the desired satellite
(ViaSat-1, WildBlue-1, or Anik-F2). Once the required pointing angles have been determined,
the ACU will drive the antenna to the desired position and the modem will attempt to acquire the
receive signal from the satellite. When the signal is received and the modem is able to properly
identify and demodulate the carrier, the antenna will enter a closed loop tracking mode.




1
       The same radome may also house a receive-only antenna for DBS satellite TV services.
       The DBS satellite receive-only antenna and service are not associated with, or part of,
       this application.


ViaSat, Inc.




                         Figure 2 – Typical Antenna Mounting Location

                 By performing closed loop tracking, the ACU is able to properly account for any
installation alignment differences between the IRU / airframe and antenna, as well as bending of
the aircraft body on the ground or in flight. The antenna system also incorporates local rate gyros
to mitigate latency between the IRU and the Mantarry ACU and further improve pointing
accuracy.

               The mean pointing error is 0° in both the azimuth and elevation directions and the
standard deviation (σ) for each axis is given in Table 3 along with the peak pointing error (3σ or
99.73%). The pointing error values are different in the azimuth and elevation directions because
the arrays are wider than they are tall. The M40 has a 5:1 width to height aspect ratio and
accordingly the elevation beamwidth is wider than the azimuth beamwidth by the same factor.
Likewise, the target standard deviation for pointing accuracy follows the same ratio.

                 The antenna control unit monitors the current and target pointing directions and if
the error limit in either the azimuth or elevation axis is exceeded, the transmit output from the
modem is inhibited in less than 100 ms (20 ms typical). The pointing error threshold is
programmable for each axis, and ViaSat proposes to inhibit transmissions should the pointing
error exceed 0.5° in the azimuth direction, or 1.35° in the elevation direction. Because the 3σ
pointing error is only ±0.27º in azimuth, the system should not inhibit due to azimuth pointing
errors. Elevation pointing error should only cause the antenna to inhibit transmit less than 0.27%
of the time.

                         1σ                          3σ                            Limit
               Azimuth        Elevation    Azimuth        Elevation      Azimuth           Elevation
    M40         ±0.09°         ±0.45°       ±0.27°         ±1.35°         ±0.5°             ±1.35°

                                      Table 3 – Pointing Error



                                                 6


ViaSat, Inc.




Antenna Patterns

                The antenna patterns generated by the M40 antenna differ from those typically
encountered when considering circular or mildly elliptical reflector type antennas. The patterns
are characterized by a narrow main beam and a line of sidelobes in the azimuth axis, a wide main
beam and line of sidelobes in the elevation axis, and relatively low amplitude sidelobes
elsewhere. Figure 3 depicts an X-Y view of the azimuth and elevation patterns when looking
directly into the boresight of the antenna. The figure illustrates the lobes that exceed the Section
25.138 limit.

                Notably, there are four grating lobes in the transmit antenna patterns that are well
removed from the main lobe. These grating lobes are only present for a limited range of skew
angles centered around approximately 25º of skew. The location and amplitude of the grating
lobes is a function of transmit frequency and typically are between 25 and 35 degrees off axis
from the main lobe. A 25-degree skew cut pattern showing the magnitude of these grating lobes
is also included as Exhibit C. While the amplitude of these grating lobes when operating at the
highest clear sky e.i.r.p. is as much as 22 dB above the 25.138 off-axis e.i.r.p. density mask, the
location of these lobes with respect to the geostationary satellite orbital (GSO) arc is such that
the lobes do not intersect the GSO arc except when the aircraft is located in a limited number of
geographic areas. ViaSat has analyzed the potential impact to the spacecraft at the affected
locations and found the actual level of interference to be minimal – less than 2% delta T/T at the
lowest symbol rate of 625 kBd and only 0.2% at the 5 MBd symbol rate.

                Figure 3 depicts the grating lobes as viewed looking into the boresight of the
antenna. The three black lines represent the GSO arc from the perspective of the terminal at
three different geographic locations: Carlsbad, CA, Melbourne, FL, and Germantown, MD.




                                                 7


ViaSat, Inc.




                                              Figure 3

               The potentially affected satellite is SES AMC-16 at 85º WL and is 26 and 30
degrees away for WildBlue-1/Anik-F2 and ViaSat-1, respectively. Even though the likelihood
that the geographic alignment will occur is small, and the worst case delta T/T is less than
2%,ViaSat has coordinated the operation of this antenna with the satellite operator.

               Because width of the main lobe of the antenna increases between the azimuth and
elevation axes as the antenna is rotated around the boresight, the alignment of the major axis of
the antenna with the GSO must be considered. As the geographic location of the aircraft moves
away in longitude from the longitude of the satellite (115.1º WL for ViaSat-1 and 111.1º WL for
WildBlue-1 and Anik-F2), the GSO appears skewed with respect to the local horizon of the AES
antenna. This skew angle is also affected by the banking of the aircraft while in flight. ViaSat
has evaluated the worst case skew angle within the operational service area of the AES antenna
and determined it to be less than 50 degrees. The M40 antenna is fully compliant in the main
lobe with the 25.138 mask up to a skew angle of 60 degrees. Accordingly, the M40 antenna
control unit monitors the skew and bank angle, and will inhibit transmissions if the combination
of bank angle and geographic skew are equal to or greater than 60 degrees.

                In Figure 3, and in the antenna patterns in Exhibit C, it can also be seen that in the
elevation axis there is a narrow line of sidelobes that extends for a few degrees to either side of
the elevation axis. The e.i.r.p. density of these sidelobes exceeds the Section 25.138 limit for
elevation angles. While the sidelobes do not intersect with the GSO, they do however extend


                                                  8


ViaSat, Inc.

into the region where non-geosynchronous satellites (NGSO) may operate. The only currently
identified NGSO satellite system in the Ka-band is the O3b network. ViaSat performed
extensive simulations to determine the potential for impact to the O3b network, and following
discussions with O3b, has coordinated the operation of the M40 antenna with O3b.




                                               9



Document Created: 2012-04-27 13:58:05
Document Modified: 2012-04-27 13:58:05

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