Optimized loading of NCW networks on WGS

Abstract

The Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) system represents an order of magnitude increase in capacity over the existing Defense Support Communications Satellite (DSCS) system. In addition to adding capability in the X-band and a Ka-band, WGS adds a unique digital channelizer. The digital channelizer greatly increases the flexibility of the WGS payload over previous satellite systems. It allows an individual 125 MHz transponder to be decomposed into as many as 48 sub-channels, each of which can be given its own transfer gain, be cross-banded between X-band and Ka-band, be combined with other sub-channels (fanned-in), or be duplicated in multiple downlinks (fanned-out). However, with increased flexibility comes the following planning challenge. Given all of the possible options, how does an operator configure the WGS satellite to most efficiently serve a given network?