The global provision of broadband Internet access is a major challenge. Outside urban areas, current coverage is unsatisfactory even in Europe, but further expansion of terrestrial networks is increasingly uneconomical. Solutions are being sought worldwide. Constellations of several hundred or thousand satellites are receiving the most attention. Also in aviation and maritime transport, the digitization of radio systems offers great potential that needs to be developed. Here, the introduction of a standard developed under the leadership of DLR is approaching. In satellite-based earth observation, the volume of data now exceeds the capacity of radio transmission systems. Standardized optical methods promise a solution here.

• With new, predominantly satellite-based solutions, we are closing the gaps in global broadband coverage for the population and increasing the reliability and resilience of data networks for Industry 4.0, smart mobility and civil security.
• By defining new digital communications standards, we are enabling the further growth of air, sea and rail traffic, as well as the increasing autonomy of the systems in use, while at the same time increasing security.
• With the development of optical communication terminals and highly efficient radio links, we are creating solutions for transporting observation data from satellites and stratospheric platforms to ground stations.

Laboratories and large-scale Facilities - Mission Global Connectivity

Optical Ground Station Oberpfaffenhofen OGSOP The Optical Ground Station Oberpfaffenhofen is located on the roof of the institute building and has a telescope to which various electro-optical systems can be directly attached. Full article

Transportable Optical Ground Station TOGS The transportable optical ground station is a versatile and modular instrument that can be used for a variety of experimental optical uplink and downlink scenarios, as well as for measuring the atmospheric optical channel. Full article

SatCom-Simulator The SatCom simulator allows performance simulations for the development, optimisation and validation of new satellite communication protocols, algorithms and procedures. Full article

Antenna measurement chamber Starlab StarLab is a near-field multi-probe system with spherical geometry and an important tool for accompanying antenna developments at the Institute. Full article

Antenna Measuring System AMA The free-field antenna measuring system AMA can be used to determine the radiation or reception characteristics of antennas in the far field. Full article

Dr. Sandro Scalise German Aerospace Center Institute of Communications and Navigation, Satellite Networks Tel.: +49 8153 28-2856 Fax: +49 8153 28-2844