ARTES 4.0 STRATEGIC PROGRAMME LINE
SPACE SYSTEM FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY (4S)
4S User Study – Satellite Application for Public Safety
ESA EXPRESS PROCUREMENT PLUS (EXPRO+) / OPEN-COMPETITIVE
4S USER STUDY
Satellite Applications for Public Safety – New and innovative satellite solutions
Our society, the economy of a country and the relative security and sovereignty are increasingly dependent on the digital infrastructure and more specifically on communication networks that tend to be increasingly integrated (IP, 5G, and so on): any lack of coverage in some areas or loss of availability due to accidental or intentional disruption may have widespread impact and very negative consequences on a state’s security. In that context, it is growingly perceived that the appropriate integration of secure next generation satellite components in our telecommunication infrastructure may greatly help to increase its overall resilience to any kind of disruption, bring additional capacity and support critical intervention in the public safety sector.
In this context, the use of satellite solutions integrated into the telecommunications infrastructure can greatly help to increase the resilience of the terrestrial networks and bring additional capacity in terms of services while ensuring total coverage of the territory. The feasibility study “Satellite Applications for Public Safety”, commissioned by the European Space Agency – ESA is part of a larger programmatic line “Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) 4.0 Strategic Program Line Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) ” and aims to identify and evaluate, in collaboration with European users and stakeholders, applications based on new generation satellite communication systems to support the emergency activities of public safety agencies including law enforcement agencies, firefighters and emergency services.
The study, conducted by the DTA and Arthur D. Little, is structed into five tasks with the release of technical notes (TN) that describe the results obtained in each task.
- Task 1 (NT#1): Starting from a set of technological macro trends identified on the basis of sector reports, review of existing literature and documentary searches and having an impact on the public safety sector, the task aims to identify, in close collaboration with users and stakeholder communities, a preliminary list of different applications critical to public safety and for which satellite solutions (SatCom) can play an important role
- Task 2 (NT#2), Task 3 (NT#3) e Task 4 (NT#4): Based on further feedback to be collected through dedicated work sessions with end users and stakeholders, the task aims to reduce the initially selected applications to a maximum of three / four applications considered to be the most relevant and attractive for the public safety sector. The subset of applications will be analyzed in detail both from a technical point of view (TN # 2 and TN # 3) and from an economic point of view through a preliminary cost-benefit analysis (TN # 4)
- Task 5 (NT#5): The goal of this task is to present roadmaps, recommendations and guidelines for the European satellite industry in order to develop the applications and services proposed in the first part of the study
In addition to the initial Kick of Meeting (KoM), a total of four reviews (PM1, MTR, PM2 and FR) to present the results to ESA are planned as per the following schedule:
- KoM (Kick of Meeting): January 2021
- PM1 (Progress Meeting 1): April 2021, review of first revision of TN1
- MTR (Mid Term Review): May 2021, review of the final version of TN1 and review of first revisions of TN2, TN3 and TN4
- PM2 (Progress Meeting 2): June 2021, review of the final versions of TN2, TN3 and TN4
- FR (Final Review): July 2021, assessment of outputs of all tasks and in particular Task 5 with the review of TN5
This study aims at identifying and assessing, in collaboration with users and stakeholders, new applications which may benefit most from an increased use of secure SatCom solutions and in particular of a Next Generation SatCom infrastructure.
The study shall pave the way for the definition of services using highly innovative and secure Satellite Communication systems (LEO, MEO or GEO) in order to support the needs of public safety stakeholders (such as emergency services, fire brigades, law enforcement).
Through this study, commercial exploitation of space assets, data and capabilities addressing technical feasibility and business development are reached. This includes the development of operational services for a wide range of users through the combination of different systems, and support in creating viable companies as well as to existing companies.
Finally, benefits are in promoting innovative services for new user communities, provided by space technologies to support and enable the growth of the space sector and consequently of the economy in the security domain.
Project manager: Antonio Zilli, Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale Scarl, antonio.zilli@dtscarl.it
Total cost: 250.000 EUR
Start and end date: 01/2021 – 07/2021 (The duration of the study shall not exceed 9 months)
More info: antonio.zilli@dtascarl.it
Partner: Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale, Arthur D. Little
