Today, DREM workers rely upon unconnected and very heterogeneous bearers, like Iridium, Globalstar and Inmarsat phones, scattered 802.11 access points with satellite broadband reach backs, trunking digital radio networks (e.g. TETRA, P25 in the U.S), two-way handheld VHF radios, and standalone fly-away satellite terminals. Besides the problems associated to deploying these stove-piped systems separately, there are the obvious interoperability and management burden issues, as well as the limited reach, and the inefficient use of the very expensive satellite bandwidth. GTD acting as prime contractor is working in the STICK project since December 2006, in the framework of ARTES 5 - ESA Telecom Startup Project (ESTEC). GTD is supported by SINERA Networks and Ingenia as subcontractors. Validation and Field Trials with end users is now scheduled to be done in June 2008 GTD aims at providing broadband communications capabilities to the Public Protection and Disaster Relief sector. Once operational, STICK will be a service that can be easily deployed by minimally trained operators, providing a mobile broadband shared network that can be simultaneously accessed by multiple users with multiple applications fully independent from availability of public networks which may collapse when disaster strikes, although it will take advantage of them if they are available to provide lower cost reach-back links to the operations command and control centre. STICK will deliver scalable on-demand communication capabilities, in the form of broadband wireless access to deployed and roaming subscribers, through a common satellite communications reachback into the static network. Satcom capacity will be distributed through multi-hop linear topologies of multiple scattered nodes, blanketing any area of emergency relief operations, and operating over unlicensed frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). The main advantages of the GTD proposed solution within STICK are: Largely based on standards and proven technology, easily adaptable to future needs of the target user community (civil protection agencies) - 802.11a/g: access the network from any Wi-fi device (PDA, tabletPC, wireless VoIP phone, mote sensor, etc) - Multi-use Linux-based radios: versatile MAC to IP adaptation - Cisco technology: build and manage the network topology, implement Quality of Service, IP securityOpen Architecture: - IP platform for voice, video, data - Can use any IP-based satellite link - Antennas can be easily replaced to increase coverage, reach - Open wireless architecture, can be migrated to 700 MHz, WiMAX, etc - Four radios per node: four WAN links possible - Will be able to interoperate with existing emergency voice networks (e.g. TETRA) The “Operational Concept” of STICK is shown on the following video:
