The GVF's global VSAT Certification Program, which was cited recently in the SSPI's Industry Innovator awards ceremony, is making vital inroads in the maritime satellite space.
In a previous column I noted the GVF VSAT installation training curriculum because it includes a focus on the deployment of systems used in the maritime environment, and would be included in one of the program sessions of the forthcoming GVF Broadband Maritime Europe conference in London on 28th and 29th June (www.uk-emp.co.uk/BMEu.Ldn.2010/).
Specifically, in the maritime space, GVF has developed and has been delivering a Schlumberger Spacetrack 4000 installation course for that company’s stabilized antenna platform. Similarly, GVF has an agreement with Cobham to develop Seatel courses, and plans are under development for a course tailored for those who install VSATs in the yachting market. Additional maritime interests which have embraced the GVF training include KVH, Seatel, iDirect, Viasat, Gilat, Hughes, and others, including most of the world's largest satellite operators.
Of course, the maritime focus is but one element of the VSAT Certification Program – a series of highly interactive, 3-D animated, simulator-driven courses provided online, and including topics beginning with satellite basics, progressing to installation techniques to mitigate uplink interference, VSAT fundamentals, and practical VSAT installation techniques. The certification process includes a Hands-On-Skills-Test (HOST) for Basic and Advanced certification, and there is also a series of manufacturer specific "specialist" certifications for certain VSAT equipment.
A recent edition of the GVF Training Newsletter from the Forum’s training partner-organization, SatProf, cited the endorsement of GVF training by the Satellite Operators Interference Initiative – currently 19 satellite operators word-wide and growing.
The Satellite Operators Interference Initiative has the objective of controlling the serious problem of uplink interference. In recent years, the satellite communications industry has experienced an escalation of signal interference, adversely affecting broadcast and telecommunication services, and the Initiative has launched a multiple front campaign to combat this trend.
One of these fronts is a carrier ID working forum to pursue industry implementation of carrier ID: a means to identify interfering signals. The second aspect is the formation of the Space Data Association to facilitate collecting and sharing interference event data amongst its satellite operator members. The third aspect is the GVF VSAT installer training.
Installation by inadequately trained technicians is one of the main causes of interference identified by the Initiative. GVF has responded by enhancing the established VSAT Installer Training program to focus even more strongly on the skills necessary to avoid accidental generation of adjacent-satellite, cross-pol, and re-radiation interference.
As part of the Initiative, Intelsat intends to train 400 installers per year through GVF for the next three years, and SES has also formally adopted the GVF program, saying the training would help in its efforts to refocus the industry’s approach to managing and preventing interference. They have been joined by other satellite operators such as Eutelsat, Inmarsat, Telesat, Asiasat and others in endorsing the GVF’s new Basic Certification level and the associated online training course – course number GVF510 – specifically targeted at delivering the core skills needed by field technicians to avoid creating VSAT-generated interference.
Whether it is mitigating uplink interference via the Basic Certification, providing solid knowledge and skills in VSAT installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting via the Advanced Certification, or gaining skills for installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of specific equipment types via Specialist Certifications, the GVF Certification Program provides training for the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the VSAT industry.
The courses available, and the processes and steps required to achieve GVF certification are fully detailed at the GVF/SatProf training portal at http://gvf.coursehost.com, but the three levels of certification can be quickly summarized as follows:
- GVF Basic VSAT Installation Certification. Basic skills that all VSAT installers must have to help prevent interference. Requires completion of online course GVF510 and the formal GVF Hands-On-Skills-Test.
- GVF Advanced VSAT Installation and Maintenance Certification. Knowledge and theory for all expert VSAT field technicians. Requires completion of online courses GVF510, GVF520, GVF521, and the formal GVF Hands-On-Skills-Test.
-GVF Speciality Certifications. Requires GVF Advanced Certification plus completion of one of the online specialty courses, such as iDirect (course GVF503i) or Hughes (course GVF503H).
Much more information is centrally located within the training portal, including details of the Andrew Werth Scholarship Program for trainees from developing countries – defined as those nations classified as Least Developed Countries by the UN (http://www.un.org/ohrlls/), or as those classified by the World Bank (http://web.worldbank.org/) with economies in the low income, low-middle income, IDA, or HIPC groups – as well as details on how to become a GVF Certified Examiner.
I am looking forward to making my own next, and modest, effort towards the continuing success of GVF training, by delivering the maritime-focused GVF training presentation at the London Broadband Maritime Europe event, as noted above. This will be another prime opportunity to further expound on the message of the significance of this important contribution to the continued growth and success of the VSAT industry worldwide, a growth that is also very clearly becoming increasingly evident on the high-seas!
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Martin Jarrold is the Chief of International Program Development of the GVF. He can be reached at: martin.jarrold@gvf.org
