REPÚBLICA DE ANGOLA

MINISTÉRIO DAS TELECOMUNICAÇÕES E DAS TECNOLOGIAS DE

INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO SOCIAL

SADC TV CHANNEL PROPOSAL

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Table of Contents
1. BACKGROUND................................................................................................2
4.1.1 VPN Network Over Satellite...........................................................20
4.1.1.1 Aggregated costs............................................................................21
3.2 SADC TV Channel streaming over satellite on DTH technology or
FTA signal...................................................................................................22
3.3 Angola comments on SENTECH proposal......................................23
4. ANGOLA PROPOSED SOLUTION...............................................................23
4.1.2 SADC TV Channel streaming over satellite on DTH..................23
4.1.2.1 Aggregated costs............................................................................24
ANNEX A...................................................................................................25

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1. BACKGROUND

The SADC Ministers responsible for ICT at their meeting in September

2019 in Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania made following
decisions to realise the implementation of the SADC TV Channel in
2020.
Over and above executing on the bilateral agreement and following the
various entities’ mandates, the SADC TV channel and Post DTT
migration workshop held in Maun, Botswana (10th -14th Feb 2020),
requested SENTECH and Angola to conduct technical requirements,
dimensioning, financial implications and financial analysis of a
proposed Satellite Network for connecting SADC member states as
part of the SADC TV channel.
Angola and SENTECH representatives met in Luanda between 5 th and
6th Abril where they discussed the following:
 VPN network over satellite for the SADC Member States
participants of SADC TV Channel and SABA/NBC;
 SADC TV Channel streaming over satellite on DTH
technology;
 Financial analysis of the proposed Satellite Networks.

The present paper presents the overview of SENTECH and Angola

technical proposals to be submitted to the SADC secretariat.

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2. SADC MEDIA CONTENT SHARING VPN NETWORK

For the SADC media content sharing VPN network, two overview
positions were presented 2.1 SENTECH and 2.2 Angola overview.

2.1 SENTECH SADC MEDIA CONTENT SHARING VPN

NETWORK

SENTECH presents the SADC media content sharing VPN network as

following:
 A satellite Virtual Private Network (VPN) to ensure that it a
completely secure network. It will provide IP connectivity
between 16 VSATs utilising using Ku-band.
 Each Member State would be provisioned with symmetric uplink
and downlink carriers of 512 kbps, with the exception of the
Namibia site, which will be provisioned with 512 kbps uplink
and 1024 kbps downlink, respectively.
 As content will be sent from Member States to NBC, the
downlink satellite bandwidth in Namibia should cater for higher
capacity.

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 However, Member States would be randomly accessing the Content
Server (uplink from NBC) would be at random and the same
bandwidth as other Member States would suffice.

Table 1 bellow presents the satellite VPN bandwidth requirements for

the purpose.

# Minimum Service
Sites QoS(Down/Up) Contention Tecnology Type Observations
for SADC TV
15 512/512 1:1 Satellite VPN members of States
1 1024/512 1:1 Satellite VPN for SABA/NBC
Table 1: Satellite VPN Bandwidth Requirements

Furthermore, member State National Public Broadcasters should

contribute the content for generating the SADC TV Channel
Programme and also to be ingested into the Content Server for sharing;
Find bellow in Figure 1 the proposed SADC Media Content Sharing
VPN Network.

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 Figure 1: SADC Media Content Sharing VPN Network

It is anticipated that the VSAT equipment would around 1.2m

diameter. The Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) comprises of two
(2) main components (sub-systems), namely:
 Outdoor Unit (ODU): Consists of a 1.2m antenna, a Block Up
Converter (BUC) and a Low Noise Block (LNB); and
 Indoor Unit (IDU): Consists of a satellite modem wish is a
network terminating unit that acts as a network interface to the
Local Areas Network (LAN) at the customer premises.

Each site’s (LAN) will connect to the satellite modem. Member States
are expected to provide LAN device(s) to facilitate connectivity
between their LAN and the IDU.

2.2 ANGOLA SADC MEDIA CONTENT SHARING

VPN NETWORK PROPOSED SOLUTION

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Angola presents the SADC media content sharing VPN network as
following:
 The proposed VPN network will allow all 15 SADC Members
States to upload and download content from the SABA/NBC
server;
 This requirement is based in minimal conditions to ensure a
normal file transfer process (FTP protocol);
 the service will provide connectivity over satellite for 16
locations;
 The proposed satellite (E3B, 3 degrees) covers almost all of
SADC countries territory.

The figure 2 bellow presents the proposed SADC media content

sharing network

Figure 2: SADC Media Content Sharing VPN Network

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The VSAT terminal equipment includes the following:
 Outdoor Unit (ODU): Consists of a 1.2m antenna, a Block Up
Converter (BUC) and a Low Noise Block (LNB); and
 Indoor Unit (IDU): Consists of a satellite modem wish is a
network terminating unit that acts as a network interface to the
Local Areas Network (LAN) at the customer premises.

3. SADC CHANNEL STREAMING OVER SATELLITE ON DTH

TECHNOLOGY

For the SADC channel streaming over satellite network, two overview
positions were presented 3.1 SENTECH and 3.2 Angola overview.

3.1 SENTECH SADC CHANNEL STREAMING OVER

SATELLITE PROPOSED SOLUTION

SENTECH presents the SADC channel streaming over satellite

network as following:
 The SADC TV Channel live will be provided from a Playout
Server based at the NBC to be transmitted to Member States;
 It is proposed that Sentech (Teraco in Isando, Johannesburg) will
access the seven (7) hour programme from NBC Playout Server
through a fibre link of Synchronous Transport Module STM-4

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 (622 Mbps) and uplink the SADC TV Channel to a Ku-band
satellite providing coverage over Sub-Sahara Africa;
 Each Member State National Public Broadcaster would capture
(downlink) the live SADC TV Channel programme and inject it
into their respective multiplexes for DTT networks (some
Member States may also have to uplink to their satellite, if it is
part of their DTT Network solution);
 Member States may also provide access to the SADC TV
Channel online via the Website (OTT) and/or Mobile
Application in future;
 Each Member State (except Namibia and South Africa) will have
one satellite terminal to receive the SADC TV Channel in the Ku-
band.

The table 2 bellow presents the satellite streaming bandwidth

requirements for SADC channel TV broadcasting.
# Service
Sites QoS(Down/Up) Contention Tecnology Type Description
Fibre Optic cable lin
1 622 Mbps 1:1 F.O. VPN (NBC Playout Serve
to Sentech)
for DTH/FTA
Satellite
1 2Mbps 1:1 Satellite contribution signal
Stream
from SENTECH

Table 2: Bandwidth requirements for SADC TV Broadcasting

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Find bellow in figure 3 the network architecture for SADC channel
streaming over satellite.

Figure 3. SADC TV Channel Distribution Network

3.2 ANGOLA SADC CHANNEL STREAMING OVER

SATELLITE PROPOSED SOLUTION

Angola presents the SADC channel streaming over satellite network as

following:
 The SADC TV Channel will be provided from a Playout Server
based at the NBC to be transmitted to Member States;

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  The content will be transmitted from NBC to INFRASAT
through a VSAT link;
 Multiplexed SADC TV Channel will be uplinked to E3B Ku-band
satellite providing broadcasting coverage capability over Sub-
Sahara Africa;
 Head-End service will include receiving content from up to 15
satellite sources creating EPG, musing sources to one transport
stream and broadcasting a Free to air satellite signal on Ku;
 The channel will be FTA (Free-to-air) broadcasting. Receivers of
content will be all over SADC region. Angola (INFRASAT).

The table 3 bellow presents the considered broadcasting parameters

for SADC channel TV.
Parameter Values
Transponder Bandwidth: 3 MHz
Modulation Standard: DVB-S2
Modcode: 8PSK
FEC: 2/3
Required C/No: 7,91 dB
Throughput: 3.3 Mbits/s
Table 3: Broadcasting parameters SADC TV Channel

Find bellow in figure 4 the proposed network architecture for SADC

channel streaming over satellite.

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 Figure 4: SADC TV Channel Distribution Network

4. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

According to both SENTECH and Angola proposals for VPN network

over satellite and SADC TV Channel streaming over satellite on DTH
technology, financial analysis were conducted by each Party and is
presented bellow.

4.1 SENTECH COST ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED

SOLUTIONS
SENTECH describes the cost for the implementation as following:
 The STM-4 Fibre Optic link between NBC Playout Server and
Sentech for satellite uplink costing is around $13,729 per month
($164,748 annually);
 Ku-band satellite uplink bandwidth from Sentech for the live
SADC TV Channel programme would be around $13,816 per
month ($165,792 annually). The satellite bandwidth requirement

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 for uplink by Sentech is 2 Mbps. This is basically a Direct to
Home (DTH) service.

SENTECH has mentioned the unavailability of the cost related to the

equipment (Uplink Earth Station at Sentech and satellite downlink
(TVRO) terminals in Member States) by the time of the workshop,
neither presented the costs later at the meeting held in Luanda.

4.2 ANGOLA COST ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

Angola conducted a cost analysis work aiming to provide more cost-

effective solution. So the following result is presented.
The table 4 bellow presents the costs related to SADC media content
sharing network.
Item Description Quantity One time Monthly
fee reoccurring
fee
VSAT including 1.2m
antenna, IQ modem,
1 15 $ 20,000.00 -
3W BUC, universal
LNB, 2x20m coax cable
connectivity 15 x -
2 512Kbps /512Kbps 16 $ 20,480.00
CIR
3 connectivity 15 x 16 - $ 81,920.00

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 2048Kbps /2048Kbps
CIR

Table 4: Estimated cost for SADC TV Channel implementation

The table 5 presents the cost related to SADC Channel streaming

network.
Item Description Quantit One time Monthly
y fee reoccurring
fee
Set up fee for Antenna
1 1 $ 2,000.00 0
registration.
3Mhz Ku bandwidth 0
2 1 $ 9,500.00
over E3B
Head end service:
Multiplexing 15 channels
3 into one uplink one SD 1 $ 22,500.00
channel unencrypted
over E3B

Table 5. Estimated cost for the SADC TV Channel streaming network

It is important to note that The SADC media sharing VPN network

and SADC Channel streaming network can be implemented using
only one user terminal to be installed at each Member State location,
offering a more cost-effective solution.
According to the proposed solutions by Angola for the
implementation of the SADC TV Channel, both Angola and SADC
member States have responsibilities to comply.

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In addition to the Angola proposed solution illustrated above on the
document, two (2) other options for the implementation of the SADC
TV Channel, were taken into account.

The list of the responsibilities and the two (2) other options are
attached as annex A

5. RECOMMENDATIONS
After conduct, deeply analysis of the proposals of both SENTECH and
Angola, we consider the following comments:
 The 622Mbps link from SENTECH to NBC doesn’t match the real
needs to get SADC TV Channel content for DTH streaming from
SENTECH HUB but it mostly depends in the additional needs
between SABA and SENTECH beside main objective.

 To avoid additional use of a STM-4 fiber optic linking SABA and

SENTECH, INFRASAT offers to provide an additional satellite
capacity to SENTECH in order to allow them access to the NBC
content, this eliminates the necessity of a dedicated STM-4 (622
Mbps) capacity in F.O. from SENTECH to NBC reducing cost of
operation.

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  INFRASAT has a commercial VSAT platform with networks in
C-Band and KU-Band, KU-Band network works on E3B satellite
(Eutelsat satellite on position 3.1° E).

 As peer discussion INFRASAT is capable to provide close

satellite network, field installation and 24x7 NOC and
Engineering support to ensure high quality link performance.

6. ANNEX A – Parties Responsibilities and Additional

Options for the Implementation of the SADC TV Channel

Angola Responsibilities Based on the Proposed Solutions

Angola will provide full range of satellite and ground infrastructure
services related the following:

 Angola shall provide the HUB services and 16 sites activation

and 24/7 monitoring;
 Angola shall provide all RF equipment, including 1.2m KU
antenna Idirect X1 or IQ modem with 3W BUC and Ku LNB;
 20m coaxial cable for Rx and Tx;
 Technical support of NOC 24/7 at the HUB in Talatona;
 Register the modems of each site that are listed in 2.3 in NMS
iDirect;
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  Do all coordination with the satellite operator;
 Provide quality connection according to the SLA;
 Connect all the 16 SADC sites to closed network;
 Monitor and alert to the customer about link failures;
 Make all the tests with each link with the client technician in the
site (test CW, test of interferences etc).

SADC Member States Responsibilities Based on the Proposed

Solutions

 SADC Members will be responsible for custom release in

location;
 Site survey at each location;
Carrying out an inspection and analysis of the location so
that it meets all the necessary conditions for the installation
of equipment; Installation of equipment; Parameterization
and testing of field equipment; Redundant connectivity for
the Internet.
 Installation and activation of Vsat and Antenna;
 Provide technical support for testing and troubleshooting at each
location that can communicate in either English or Portuguese
with the NOC;
 Monitor user activity is not exceeding SLA at each location.

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Additional Options for the Implementation of the SADC TV
Channel

Option 2 – This offer excludes the responsibility to provide VSAT

equipment. Being responsible only to provide the 3 MHz satellite
bandwidth through E3B Ku-band satellite located at 3 degrees East.

Option 3 – This offer excludes the responsibility to provide VSAT

equipment. In addiction, it will be offered to do the Head-End service -
receiving content from 15 Ku channels provided by SADC Members,
multiplexing all 15 sources to one TS stream Up linking one SD DTH
channel over E3B.
In case of Option 2 and Option 3, SADC will be responsible to provide
the content to Angola teleport by Ku uplink from each location and the
receiving element at each STB.

Channel in Option 3 will be SD MPEG4 H.264 without encryption.

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