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Product quality initiative from GVF at CABSAT

Earth station equipment that has been submitted to approval measures conducted in co-ordination with the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) Product Quality Assurance Framework will be highlighted during CABSAT 2013.

Earth station equipment that has been submitted to approval measures conducted in co-ordination with the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) Product Quality Assurance Framework will be spot-lighted during both the CABSAT MENASAT Summit and in the CABSAT Exhibition Hall.

Information about type approvals, and those products that have already been tested, will be a centrepiece of the CABSAT 2013 programme

According to the GVF spokesman, this feature of CABSAT 2013 is of value, both to the communications industry and the broadcast and telecom user communities. As satellite communications have become more popular, the number of earth stations entering the marketplace has increased dramatically. With millions of fixed and mobile satcom terminals now planned for production, GVF’s Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) reportedly aims to represent the global satellite industry – including satellite operators, earth station manufacturers and integrators – as they co-ordinate industry testing and type approvals that help characterise the quality of satcom equipment. Information about type approvals, and those products that have already been tested, will be a centrepiece of the CABSAT 2013 programme.

During the MENASAT Summit, industry presentations will be delivered on the GVF Product Quality Assurance Framework and how it serves as a path through which manufacturers can have their equipment type-approval tested. This, the GVF claims, will provide an opportunity for the Middle Eastern satellite communications industry to learn how they can take advantage of the programme and apply approved products to the solutions offered to their customers.

The approved products available in the CABSAT exhibition will include systems designed for broadcasting and consumer broadband, as well as enterprise-class terminal equipment for fixed networks and for state-of-the-art communications on aircraft, trains, ships, and vehicles

The main advantage of type approved products, according to the GVF release, is that satellite end users are able to introduce antenna systems that have demonstrated compliance with industry-approved specifications. Users will be able to examine those products in the CABSAT Exhibition Hall, where a Quality Products Trail will help identify exhibiting manufacturers who have approved earth station products. The approved products available in the CABSAT exhibition will include sytems designed for broadcasting and consumer broadband, as well as enterprise-class terminal equipment for fixed networks and for state-of-the-art communications on aircraft, trains, ships, and vehicles.

The GVF MRA, the release states aims to be the industry mechanism through which the approvals are co-ordinated and to provide guidance for manufacturers and satellite operators pursuing GVF MRA Testing and Satellite System Operator Type Approval for VSAT equipment.