The first class of the Satellite Communication Course, assigned to the Service and Payload Control Channel area of the Mission and Satellites Center (MCC) in Funda, was completed on May 9 2022. The Satellite Communication Course titled “Radio Frequency Fundamentals, VSAT Antennas Installation and Maintenance Procedures” was taught by senior specialists from the National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN).
This training aims at providing companies participating in the telecommunication sector with solid knowledge of the fundamentals and techniques used in satellite communication, understanding of the influence of the power balance in a satellite connection and understanding of the impact of the methods used in earth stations and satellite transponders for the best use of the space segment (Power vs Bandwidth).
The training took place in person for five days, from the 3rd to the 9th of May 2022. The 25 hours course was divided into a theoretical part, taught at the Instituto Superior Politécnico de Tecnologias e Ciências (ISPTEC), and a practical part taught in MCC’s laboratory.
Furthermore, the course covered all the theoretical aspects of satellite communication, from the orbits to the antennas, the fundamentals of Radiofrequency (RF), equipment configuration, the location and resolution of faults with a spectrum analyser and aspects to save bandwidth in the commercialisation of the space segment.
The training is within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the GGPEN, ISPTEC and INFRASAT to expand space science and technology training and to disseminate space culture at local institutions in Angola.
The companies participating in the course possess had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about the industry and considered it a unique and enriching opportunity. For example, engineer Kiwa Matundu from TECNOSERVE felt satisfied after completing the programme, noting that the course would help him navigate his day-to-day challenges better. “I gained enough experience in solving daily complications, such as interference, balancing a carrier against noise, and playing with other parameters, such as modulation, coding, etc., of antennas and VSAT network”, he said.
Similarly, engineer Júlio Pereira from INFRASAT expressed his satisfaction with the vast knowledge of the instructors on the subject. According to him, the training provided him with a significant amount of theoretical-practical learning. However, he also ended up citing three items that most impressed him in general: frequency calculations, RF chain, and practical tests.
Lastly, it is essential to note that the Satellite Communication course continues to take place at the ITEL Technological Training Center (CFITEL), during the week and on Saturdays. Also, the training programme enjoys the institutional support of the Angolan Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication as part of the Ministry’s commitment to the National Space Education Programme.
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