eu4journalists

Space Policy

5. Satellite Communications

• Air traffic management via satellite
• Improved emergency response
• Broadband Internet access on board high-speed trains

The ESA Telecommunications Programme has been in place since 1975. It is key to the consolidation of the competitive position of European industry, operators and service providers. The investment role of ESA, developing new satellite systems and technologies, is crucial for the preparation of future services like the examples given below.

• Air traffic management via satellite Pilots and flight controllers will benefit from exchanging data and communicating via satellite and terrestrial systems in the future Single European Sky. This is the aim of ESA’s programme Iris. To support this, the Single European Sky Air traffic management Research (SESAR) programme is the ‘operational’ part, proposing a new approach to reform the air traffic management structure in Europe. It addresses administrative, operational and technical concepts for communication, navigation and surveillance for air traffic safety. The definition phase study for SESAR is co-funded by the European Union under a Trans-European Network-Transport (TEN-T) scheme and EUROCONTROL , representing a total budget of €60 million.

• Improved emergency response Extreme natural phenomena like tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes feature prominently in the news. So too has the rapid spread of new diseases such as SARS and avian flu. By identifying and mapping occurrences of these problems sooner, the Health Early Warning System (HEWS), a project supported by ESA, can improve information for emergency teams and the coordination of government agencies.

• Broadband Internet access on board high-speed trains ESA gave initial support to the project Broadband To Trains, which enabled the train company Thalys to offer continuous broadband Internet connections to passengers on board travelling across national borders between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne at speeds of 300 km/h. The technique combines satellite and mobile telephone data technologies with wireless networks similar to WiFi hotspots.