Skyline Communications, a specialist in end-to-end multi-vendor network management solutions for the satellite, broadcast, IPTV and HFC broadband industry, announces that Skylogic, a European provider of broadband satellite communication services, has expanded its DataMiner end-to-end multi-vendor network management platform to include the management of all antennas in its satellite earth station at Torino, Italy.

The solution spans across a wide variety of products from various industry vendors (such as Advent, Andrew / ASC Signal, CPI, Norsat International, Satellite Systems Corporation, Spectracom, Vertex, etc) and provides fully unified remote monitoring and control of all system components, along with comprehensive fault and performance management.

Skylogic also makes extensive use of the powerful open-architecture automation features available in DataMiner to further enhance this part of its operation. This includes continuous DataMiner software-driven automatic Uplink Power Control (UPC), based on real-time input of the beacon receivers, and open-architecture algorithms implemented in the DataMiner Automation Engine, interacting with all involved third-party components. DataMiner also provides comprehensive redundancy control on all critical system components, including upconverters, HPAs, downconverters, LNAs, etc. resulting in maximum service availability.

As a result, all antenna stations in the earth station are now consolidated in one intuitive overview. This includes easy navigation with bubble-up and drill-down maps, block diagrams of all system components with alarm color coding, real-time display of key metrics, signal path indications, special indicators to show if advanced software features such as UPC are active, and a range of operator controls to manually trigger fail-over and maintenance procedures. The entire UI is designed in DataMiner Visual Overview, which enables operators to create and edit their UIs instantly with Microsoft Visio, and to apply changes on the fly without affecting the on-going operation.

“We have a long-lasting relationship with Skylogic, which is part of the Eutelsat group. Skylogic has been deploying DataMiner for a wide variety of other applications, including the end-to-end management of their video services, and this project fits in their strategy to further consolidate the management of their operation with this new generation of end-to-end multi-vendor network management software technology,” commented Glenn D’Haene, Business Development Manager at Skyline Communications.

“And while at first glance this may appear to be a more traditional application, it is far from that, and it effectively brings along very tangible benefits as compared to the disparate legacy and proprietary solutions that were commonly used in the industry. The fully user-definable interactive UIs and the powerful open-architecture automation set the solution apart from any other solution, and bring it to an entirely new level. But in addition to that, there’s also the bigger picture, which is the unique ability of DataMiner to go straight across all possible other technology domains, such as video compression platforms, play-outs, SNG fleets, ad-hoc service platforms, IT infrastructure, utility systems, contribution links, terrestrial transport networks and much more. DataMiner is truly the first solution in the industry that really lives up to the expectation of a single consolidated management platform for the entire operation.”

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite