The official launch of the EXATEL satellite teleport took place today, i.e. on June 22. This is the only solution of this type in Central and Eastern Europe controlled by a state-owned company. This infrastructure will be used in both public and commercial sector.
EXATEL’s competence in satellite communications have been developed since 2018. To date, the company has provided this type of service to public institutions. In early 2020 the satellite communications segment became one of the vital areas of market expansion and the Company announced in October that it was going to build its own infrastructure – a satellite teleport. According to the original plan, the construction was to be completed in June this year. The deadline has been met, and today the teleport is officially opened.
After 8 months of work, we officially opened the EXATEL teleport. The importance of this project is enormous – both for the State and for the Company itself. This is the only solution in this part of Europe that will be controlled by a state-owned company. The teleport services are currently used by Poland’s Foreign Ministry. However, its possibilities are much greater. Therefore, our services can also be used by other entities in both public and commercial sector. “What is important, the entire project has been carried out relying on our own funds,” said Nikodem Bończa Tomaszewski, President of the EXATEL’s Management Board.
Left: Od lewej: Piotr Krawczyk – Agencja Wywiadu, Tomasz Zdzikot – Poczta Polska, Marcin Ociepa – Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej, Maciej Małecki – Ministerstwo Aktywów Państwowych, Nikodem Bończa Tomaszewski – EXATEL, Tadeusz Chrzan – poseł na Sejm RP, Maciej Karasiński – Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych.
Capabilities of EXATEL teleport
The EXATEL teleport currently consists of seven high-tech satellite dishes, with the biggest one measuring 6.3 metres in diameter. The infrastructure is supplemented by a Data Center, linked to other EXATEL DC facilities, a warehouse and a room serving as a workshop.
The entire system was set up to provide SLA services at 99.9% level. “Importantly, the area allows us to quickly expand the antenna system with additional infrastructure, if necessary. If we add to this continuity of power supply (at three security levels), full redundancy of satellite transmission and of the backhaul transport network, I can proudly say that EXATEL teleport meets the highest world standards,” said Rafał Magryś, the Vice President of the EXATEL Management Board.
Polish teleport with the top security level
Technical aspects are not the only strengths of EXATEL’s latest project. The Polish telecommunications operator has also devoted much attention to the issues of the teleport’s security – both physical and cyber. The entire facility is under access control and permanent video surveillance. Of course, EXATEL also has a team of experts with many years of experience who, if necessary, can react instantly 24/7.
The main differentiator of our solution is the synergy resulting from our competence as a telecommunications operator. The entire infrastructure and provided services are constantly monitored and supervised by our Network Operations Centre and – which is a unique value of EXATEL teleport – Security Operations Centre. “It is also significant that – as a Polish telecommunications operator – we have the EU and NATO First Degree Industrial Security Certificates with Top Secret Clause,” adds Rafał Magryś.
Top quality services
Currently, EXATEL teleport can provide various services in the field of satellite communications. The high visibility of geostationary satellites facilitates connection to almost any place on Earth. Teleport also provides broadcast services for media companies (radio, television) and can be a backup access to telecommunications satellites for their operators. Thanks to modern solutions, it can receive real-time satellite data from EDRS system in low Earth orbit and transmit it further to Earth via satellites in the geostationary orbit. It can also be used for mission control, i.e. to manage, for example, a constellation of Polish observation/telecommunication satellites.
Space is the limit
Teleport is not the only EXATEL space-related project. In January this year, the Company in cooperation with Rzeszów University of Technology and the State Higher School of Technology and Economics in Jarosław signed a letter of intent on the establishment of Polish space cluster. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of State Assets. The aim of cooperation between EXATEL and universities in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship is to create the Earth Observation Satellite System. The project will include the establishment of a Polish constellation of six baseline remote sensing microsatellites. This solution will provide very high resolution (VHR) imagery with applications in the areas of defence, security, emergency management, agriculture, and environmental protection, among others. EXATEL plans that the first Polish satellite will be lifted off in 2023, while the entire constellation will be launched in late 2026.
