Consultancy Services

An audit covering the current infrastructure, satellite capacity, support facilities and work practices as well as providing recommendations for better use of these facilities along with enhancements and requirements for future service. The brief was then expanded to include the company’s sales process and tools as well as its purchasing and stores.

The network was to be accessed by multiple individuals on each ship using standard hand-held devices (Smart phones/tablets etc). End users will be using a combination of data messaging and voice communication. Individual data throughput will be low. In designing the network allowance was made for: On board distribution via standard WiFi signals; The satellite distribution network; Billing and credit control allowing for micro-billing of individuals in addition to company use; The licensing and regulatory environment.

The Client was operating a broadband Internet service into the Middle East Region running as a shared user platform via satellite. The service claimed availability of 99.5+% and to satisfy “bandwidth-intensive applications”. The product literature made specific mention of collaborative and hosted applications, VoIP and Video Conferencing.

As additional users were added to the network the service was reported as suffering from congestion to the point that nobody was getting a reasonable service. There had been numerous customer complaints and a high level of customer churn.

The report evaluated the complaints identifying what was real within them, identified possible tools to improve service throughput or improve customer experience of performance, investigated the methods employed by other service providers on similar platforms, and drew conclusions and made recommendations for further action.

The Client was offering its service within the Middle East Region wished to extend the offering to the Southern Africa region. They specifically required recommendations regarding the generic antenna size and BUC RF power rating across the region having been previously been advised that specific link-budget calculations would need to be run for each and every location.

The study formed three parts: 

Identification of what could be done with existing equipment and satellite capacity commitments to achieve maximum data rates with minimal additional spend. Identify costs and make recommendations.

Assuming substantially similar satellite capacity make recommendations for a fully costed solution on the same satellite to achieve a doubling and quadrupling of data rates. The recommendations were to take account of the technological developments during the 9 years since the initial equipment and service provision.

Assuming loss of current satellite capacity distributor identify and make recommendations for alternative provision of the existing or expanded link. Identify possible implications for equipment cost and provision as well as revised service costs.