Keeping all lines of communications open during a crisis is critical . and the Dublin Fire Brigade has shown how this can be done using satellite and hybrid technologies.

An emergency exercise in Malahide estuary, north of Dublin, Ireland, put the fire service.s pilot information and communication system through its paces last month.

REACT, or Resource for Emergency services to Access Command and control data using satellite and hybrid Technologies, is a project co-funded by ESA.s ARTES 3.4 satcom applications programme.

It provides secure and reliable exchange of information between emergency personnel on the scene and their command and control centre during a crisis and incidents such as car accidents.

REACT combines mobile phone technology with satcoms and the emergency service.s communication system, TETRA. This ensures there is always an open link during a major incident, even if the phone network is not working or overloaded.

Thanks to broadband satcoms, the system provides a range of voice, data and video channels between the fire service personnel on the ground and the commanders in a central command and control room. This enables the controllers to coordinate the response using the information they are receiving from officers on the ground.

For the exercise, an Incident Command Unit was sent to the emergency scene, adapted with a Ka-band satellite dish and a CCTV camera to send and receive information and images.

The vehicle operates as a communications hub, providing realtime links through voice and video conferencing services from the scene to the command and control room.

This allows an operational picture of the incident to be shared between the scene commander and the command and control personnel, who are more efficient at delivering support to officers at the scene.

A touchscreen monitor inside the vehicle gives access to REACT applications, such as an interactive smartboard for sharing maps, plans and sketches with the control room. High-resolution images from the cameras of first-responders can also be sent.

REACT provides seamless streaming of audio, video and data from the incident to the commanders, giving an all-round view of the situation on the ground and providing an invaluable realtime picture.

Lead partner Skytek has made sure that the look and feel of the control panel and electronic forms fit with Dublin Fire Brigade.s existing operational procedures and paper-based records, allowing personnel to use the system and software with minimal training.

ESA’s Olivier Becu welcomed the demonstration of REACT in an emergency response exercise: “The experience gained from this exercise enables Skytek to verify that the system actually supports the Dublin Fire Brigade to provide an integrated and coordinated response to an emergency event.”

Ritchie Hedderman, Head of Operations at the Dublin Fire Brigade, added, .In the event of a major emergency, secure and reliable communications are vital to the emergency services.

"I feel that the satellite communications in time will prove to be the primary and preferred means for communicating as it can supply voice, video and data back to regional and national control centres where strategic commanders can assess situation on the ground and provide the back up resources in order that a successful conclusion to the emergency can be obtained".

The satcom system has been made possible as a result of an agreement between ESA and UK company Avanti to provide capacity on the Hylas-1 satellite, which includes a Ka-band spot beam covering Ireland.

Satellites are making it possible to transfer money between remote locations in sub-Saharan African countries that are otherwise unconnected to the outside world.

An ESA project looking at ways to use satellites for services in developing nations where land networks are simply impossible or non-existent gave rise to the Agency.s SatFinAfrica pilot project in 2011.

It was so successful that a company called SatADSL was set up in Belgium early last year to provide satcom for financial services to Africa. Microfinance offices in different villages, linked via satellite, allow people to transfer or withdraw money with ease.

The satcom service is sold via local African distributors who resell it to the microfinance offices on behalf of SatADSL.

Currently, SatADSL serves more than 100 offices and the number is growing. Each branch has its own satellite terminal.

SatADSL has just received .1 million from a leading Belgian private equity investor to support this growth, with the aim of connecting thousands of branch offices of microfinance companies in sub-Saharan Africa via satellite.

Other services offered by SatADSL include cash machines to withdraw money at any time, even in remote and otherwise unconnected places.

The machines operate in the same way as they do in Europe, only in Africa a satellite terminal sits on the roof. For those withdrawing cash, the procedure is no different. Satcom also provides the same level of security as terrestrial networks.

SatFinAfrica uses Sat3Play satellite technology developed by Newtec in Belgium with assistance from ESA.s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems, or ARTES, programme. The satellite link is provided by SES Astra in Luxembourg using SES Broadband.

When someone uses a bank machine, the information is sent via satellite to the SES hub in Luxembourg. This is transferred via the virtual private network tunnel to headquarters in Africa.

The confirmation is sent back to the user through the same system. Business is conducted in a matter of minutes rather than the days it used to take.

.We are extremely pleased to have been instrumental in helping SatADSL become an important player in the African market of transactional services for the banking sector using Sat3Play, a leading technology created in Europe., said Davide Tomassini, ESA.s Technical Officer.

.Sea&Space Exploration is extremely happy to have been partnering up with ESA in this R&D activity that resulted in the creation of a commercial operating company, SatADSL. SatADSL is exploiting European Technologies for the benefit of African people, and supporting the development of financial services outside densely populated urban areas., added Caroline De Vos, Chief Operations Officer of SatADSL.

A recent conference, held in Bratislava, Slovakia, entitled .SMEs and entrepreneurs: boosting business using satellite applications" highlighted the opportunities satellite services can offer small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

The conference, co-organised by Eurisy and the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, presented successful examples of how SMEs can benefit from economic growth, improved business processes and increased competitiveness through the use of satellite applications.

The conference brought together SMEs and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors outside the space industry to learn about innovative and operational satellite applications for enhancing business processes and creating new business and services.

Delegates were able to find out more about satellite services and how they might help address their business needs by hearing testimonial from SME end-users of satellite applications on how satellite technology has benefitted their businesses. 

Representatives from SMEs shared concrete examples of how satellite applications are used in different sectors and highlighted success stories from the use of satellite services in the Slovak region, with early adopters of satellite applications reporting their value for money was proven in daily operations.

Key issues discussed at the one day event included the need to help SMEs access satellite applications in order for them to compete in the global market and the barriers which prevent them from adopting satellite services. It was highlighted that SMEs need dedicated support in order to overcome some of the obstacles preventing their use of satellite applications.

One of the major issues discussed was how the take up of satellite services by SMEs is impacted by a lack of sufficient resources, preventing SMEs from penetrating new markets and developing solutions to meet their needs. SMEs may be financially vulnerable since they generate modest profits and have little access to private capital. However they are a vital part of the European economy and therefore have a crucial role in its success and competitiveness.

The key role that SMEs play in the European economy and the difficulties they encounter with accessing resources for implementing satellite solutions for their businesses highlights the importance of assistance from European support programmes. However, delegates reported that they find it hard to understand and access the mechanisms for funding and support in Europe.

The IAP Ambassador Platform for SMEs (APsme), hosted by Eurisy and IAP Ambassador Platform for Central and Eastern European Region (APCEE), presented information about IAP opportunities for SMEs in the Slovak Republic to both use and develop new products and services based on satellite technology.

Marie-Laure Germain, APsme manager explained; .Helping to unlock the potential within the SME market for satellite solutions has benefits for both the integrated applications industry and SMEs. That is why we are working with SMEs to raise awareness of the possible advantages offered to them by satellite services and help them to overcome the barriers they may encounter when trying to access satellite applications..

Conclusions and recommendations of the conference can be viewed on the Eurisy website here

The ARTES 3-4 Satcom Applications programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) is inviting public and commercial organisations to propose ideas, suggestions and business innovations for space-based applications and services related to satellite communications addressing European and Global market segments. The aim is to generate ideas that will improve business performance and operations, help enforce new regulatory standards, or enable improved resilience.

The submissions will be reviewed by ESA to identify the most promising candidates for entering the next level of the ARTES 3-4 Satcom Applications programme, aiming at operational, self-sustaining and profitable solutions.

The ARTES 3-4 Satcom Applications programme has been created to support applications projects related to satellite telecommunications either originated by industry or in response to specific applications calls initiated by ESA. It aims to improve the competitive position of industry in ESA member states in the field of satellite telecommunications and in their associated utilisation. Being an element of the ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme it has successfully contributed to the development, qualification, and demonstration of applications since 1998.

Core themes which are covered in this Call for Ideas include (but are not limited to) the following areas:

• eHealth (e.g. eMobility, remote medical surveillance and diagnostics).
• Security (e.g. cyber security: improve resilience to cyber incidents and reduce the cyber threat).
• Transport (e.g. train control and monitoring, Unmanned Aircraft System operations).
• Consumer Applications (e.g. digital cinema, augmented reality).
• Emergency (e.g. coordinating rescue services).
• Capacity Building (e.g. telecentre for remote community development).
• eLearning (e.g. training teachers over satellite, virtual whiteboard).
• eGovernment (e.g. counting votes by computer with results transferred over satellite).
• Energy (e.g. meter readings via satellite, offshore oil and gas field monitoring).
• Media (e.g. news streaming from remote locations).
• Any other promising topic.

The ideas submitted will be used to identify with the proposer promising ARTES 3-4 Satcom Applications projects which will likely start in 2014. Both ARTES 3-4 Study activities and Satcom Applications Projects can be financially supported by ESA up to a level of 50%.

Full details of the Call and on how to submit your ideas can be found on the IAP portal at:
http://iap.esa.int/opportunities/iap/ARTES-3-4-applications-Call-for-Id…

Your ideas and suggestions should reach us by 15th July 2013.

More than 75 participants from SMes all over Europe attended the IAP Ambassador Platform for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (APsme) launch event in Brussels on 6 March.

The event informed participants on this new initiative to facilitate the access of SMEs to satellite-related activities:

• For SMEs as service providers to get operational information on how IAP activities can support them in developing new, integrated products or services.
• For SMEs as end-users, to explore the potential benefits of using satellite services to answer their business needs.

The conference was co-organised by Agoria (Belgium.s largest employer.s organisation and trade association), UEAPME (the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized enterprises), the European Space Agency, and Eurisy which has hosted the APsme since September 2012.

In addition to informative talks by representatives of the four co-organisers on the needs and context of SMEs, the IAP support mechanisms, and the role of APsme, several SMEs presented their hands-on experience of either benefitting from IAP in developing new services, or in using operational satellite applications for their needs. These case-study examples covered several sectors, such as renewable energies, agro-environment, forestry, water, finance and industrial risk management.

The event concluded with bilateral meetings between the IAP Team and participants interested to profit from the initiative.

Conference participants recognised the interest for small businesses to fully reap the benefits of the European investments made in space infrastructure, by initiating and using integrated services. The SMEs that were present also pointed out the benefits in terms of business and competitiveness in taking up IAP opportunities as service providers.

All the presentations of the day are available on the APsme web-portal: http://iap.esa.int/c/sme/

An entire afternoon of the two-day event was dedicated to ESA Space Applications. Presentations were given including Integrated Space Applications for Risk Management; Energy, water and waste management; "Space 4 Health" and the IAP Programme.

About 25 participants from the Azores, Canary and Madeira Islands attended the seminar, organised by the Regional Fund for Science and Technology of the Azores within the frame of the Transnational Cooperation Programme MAC 2007-2013 under the FEDER, and more specifically of the MaReS project (Macaronesian Research Strategy). Very active involvement was shown by all participants.

Many ideas emerged out of the discussions that showed how the area could benefit from space applications. These include;

• services to fishermen for identifying fish shoals with fish of the desired type,
• maritime surveillance, tracking of ships,
• reliable communications in an emergency situation,
• harbour management, moorings for leisure boats,
• decision-making about directing population to safe areas in case of emergency,
• better land use management, improved geodetic data,
• better detection of oil spills,
• development of transport strategies, and
• developing synergies between UAVs and satellites.

Results and possible follow up to the discussions determined that work is required at all levels including ESA, national authorities, regional authorities and private firms. An IAP Call For Ideas and creating a dedicated Ambassador Platform within IAP are considerations for the future.

For more information visit: http://www.azores.gov.pt/Portal/pt/entidades/srecc-frc/livres/spacesmallislands.htm

More than 60 high-level representatives of satellite-based industries and experts shared knowledge, experiences and needs in view of bridging the digital divide at the launch conference of the Space for Med initiative on 23 November.

The conference took place in Barcelona during the Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders. Space For Med is led by the European Investment Bank (EIB), ESA and receives support from Luxinnovation, Luxembourg's Research and Innovation Agency.

A working session chaired by EIB and ESA produced promising results. Panellists had the opportunity to explore the satellite-based services promoted under the initiative with a view of taking them further.

Private sector participants agreed that space technologies could play a crucial role in economic development of the Mediterranean partner countries by driving innovative interventions in critical infrastructure sectors.

In a separate session, two new studies were presented. The EIB study on "Broadband Access for Mediterranean Partner Countries" and  the ESA study entitled "Evaluation of Satellite Solutions for Fast Deployment" assessed how broadband Internet services can be developed throughout the region.

The Space for Med initiative intends to develop spaced-based services in three key sectors: i) water management, ii) energy and renewable energies and iii) transport and logistics in the Mediterranean region.

The anticipated outcome of the initiative will see innovative responses for the continued development of these sectors, and potential concrete implementation in large infrastructure projects typically funded by the EIB.

The Space for Med Initiative agreement between ESA and the EIB was signed at ESA headquarters in Paris on 10 Sep, 2012.

Presentations given at the launch conference are available for download to registered users of the SpaceForMed website. Visit http://artes-apps.esa.int/community-portal/spaceformed