Johan Stander with kind assistance from Etienne Charpentier

1. Ad hoc International Forum of Users of Satellite Data Telecommunication Systems Background information Johan Stander with kind assistance from Etienne Charpentier

2. Ocean data buoy community, a driver • First Global Atmospheric Research Programme (GARP) Global Experiment (FGGE) in the late 1970s had data buoy component where drifting buoys have been deployed in the Southern Ocean • In 1979 the French government offered one year of Argos platform data collection & location as its contribution to FGGE • As of 1980, governments had to buy Argos service

3. Establishment of the Argos Joint Tariff Agreement (JTA) • JTA established in 1981 by WMO for scientific programmes funded by governments and/or non-profit agencies • In 1984 IOC of UNESCO agreed to co-sponsor the JTA with the WMO • The objective of this cooperative effort was to provide fair, cost-effective and simple procedures for WMO & IOC users of the system • Contributed significantly to the stability of the Argos data collection and location system and its globally expanded applications

4. Data buoy community influence on Argos system • WMO-IOC Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) Established in 1985 • DBCP closely associated to JTA & has been influential in promoting WMO & IOC requirements • Development of a GTS data processing system • Global network of regional Argos receiving stations (for data timeliness) • Argos system improvements taking into account DBCP requirements • Automatic collection of instrument/platform metadata by JCOMMOPS • Publication of DBCP Tech. Doc. • Use of Argos system (DBCP TD No. 3) • GTS data processing and quality control (DBCP TD No. 2)

5. Widening the scope with other satellite data telecommunication systems • Argos system is no longer the only system that can be used for data collection from drifting buoys • Pilot activities have been initiated by JCOMM to evaluate other Satcom systems (e.g. Iridium) • In 2010, the JCOMM Pilot Project for the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) promoted the establishment of an international forum of users of satellite data telecommunication systems • Wide user base (ocean, land, polar, other…) • Addressing user requirements (high temporal & vertical resolution data, improved timelines, power consumption) • Tariff negotiations • Making recommendations on deficiencies and gaps • Reduce satcom costs

6. Discussions within the WMO Commission for Basic Systems (CBS) • Recognised the existing JCOMM arrangement in negotiating Tariff Agreements with Argos • Noted the recommendation from the JCOMM Pilot Project for WIGOS • Recognized benefits of strong user base covering multiple applications to address system deficiencies, negotiate tariff and potential improvements of the rendered services with the operators of satellite data telecommunication systems • Extraordinary session of the CBS, Namibia, 17-24 November 2010 made specific recommendations to WMO Congress

7. WMO 16th Congress decisions (2011) • WMO Sixteenth Congress (Cg-16, Geneva, Switzerland, 16 May – 3 June 2011) decided to support the establishment of an International Forum of Users of Satellite Data Telecommunication Systems (Forum) covering a wide user basis, and to address remote data communication requirements - including tariff negotiations as needed - for automatic environment observing systems coordinated through WMO and partner organizations such as IOC and FAO • Forum is open to all satellite data telecommunication systems used for the collection of environment data from remote platforms to serve the needs of WMO, and IOC applications

8. WMO 16th Congress guidance (2011) • Approach partner organizations & coordinate with the JTA with the view to establish such a Forum during 2012-2015 • Go beyond tariff negotiations & take a very broad view of available technologies, options and prices as well as cooperative mechanisms through the DCP services of meteorological satellites • Concerns about Antarctic stations funded by research agencies, which data are not available in real-time for NWP • High communication cost involved in using Iridium satellites is a limiting factor • CBS & JCOMM to investigate possible ways to reduce such costs through an international forum of users of satellite data telecommunication systems • WMO Information System (WIS) would provide a suitable environment for collection and dissemination of data from research observing stations

9. Governance • Once established the Forum shall report to the executive bodies of the co-sponsor Organizations through mechanisms defined by each Organization • WMO governance • Under Commission for Basic Systems (CBS), who shall coordinate closely on related issues with JCOMM • Reporting to the WMO Executive Council through the CBS • CBS Management Group considered the proposed road map leading to the establishment of the Forum and endorsed the Preliminary Draft ToT, and requested the Open Programme Area Group on Information Systems and Services (OPAG-ISS) to take the responsibility for the establishment of the Forum • IOC & FAO governance to be discussed

10. Workplan • CBS Management Group endorsed initial workplan • Preparatory workshop held in Toulouse, April 2012 • Proposed operating principles, including Terms of Reference of the Forum’s Executive Committee • Adjusted the draft Terms of Reference proposed by the Secretariats • Elected an interim Executive Committee • Reviewed current satellite data telecommunication issues • Identified areas where progress/proposals can be made • Refined the workplan for formal adoption of the Forum by the Executive Bodies of the co-sponsor Organizations • This ad hoc Forum to prove concept, and consolidate workplan

11. Workplan continue • Second Ad hoc International Forum of Users of Satellite Data Telecommunication Systems were held.(Paris, France, 3-4 October 2013)

12. TOR: Interim EC for Satcom Forum shall • Drive the workplan leading to the establishment of the Satcom Forum by the co-sponsoring organization; • Submit the Terms of Reference of the Satcom Forum to the CBS Management Group and the GOOS Steering Committee; • Once the Terms of Reference are adopted, act as Interim Executive Committee of the Satcom Forum until the first formal Satcom Forum event • Finalize operating principles • Negotiate with potential hosts, and propose a venue for the next Satcom Forum event • Investigate establishment of a trust fund, seek potential contributors, and propose initial budget for supporting the Forum’s activities • Propose agenda and documentation plan for the next Satcom Forum event • Organize the session of the next Satcom Forum event

13. WMO World Meteorological OrganizationWorking together in weather, climate and water Requirements for Polar Observations WMO: EC-PORS www.wmo.int

14. Background • Polar Regions = Arctic, Antarctic and third pole. • Remote areas has little infrastructure but specific demands for transmission of meteorological observations. • Transmissions need to be low power and short. • Data speed not an issue as the data is low volume. • Transmission needs to be reliable • Data need at forecasting centre within 20 to 30 minutes of observation • Polar Regions geostationary satellites can be a challenge due to low altitude or screening by terrain by satellites

15. Background continue • WMO Regions are preparing Regional WIS Implementation Plans. • No progress has been made to prepare a WIS Implementation Plan for Polar Regions.

16. Telecommunications methods used by AnTON stations as notified to WMO Secretariat by February 2013 • E-Mail (1) • VSAT (3) • ARGOS (50) • HF radio/HF modem (1) • DCP (2) • HF Voice (1) • Satellite circuit (3) • UHF (1) • UHF Voice (1) • HF/TTY-TELEX (1) • HF-LSB TTY 50 (1) • HF-SSB (5) • HF-SSB Voice (1) • HF-USB Voice (2) • Inmarsat (7) • Intelsat (2) • Iridium (5) • Unknown (18)

17. General comments from EC-PORS • Iridium is almost instantaneous as it gets bounced round the satellites, some users get the E-mailed data within a couple of minutes of it being sent. • ARGOS is slower as it has to be captured at a download station as the capability does not exist to transfer the messages between satellites like it does with iridium. • The data being sent is generally very small if using ARGOS or SBD Iridium data transmissions.

18. DBCP - IPAB WMO • Considers SATCOM initiative as very important and wishes to contribute. • IPAB has formulated these requirements for Polar Obs: • Main issues are continuous coverage of high latitudes (90N - Arctic), with sufficient band width, e.g. increase Iridium SBD size to 1000 bytes • Amount of data transmitted and how frequent, real time/delayed mode to be decided • More data could be sent e.g. with Rudex system, which should be simplified • What are various service provides such as Globalstar plans for Polar Regions 1

19. Request from EC-PORS • Lower tariffs • Faster data transfer for forecast models. • WMO group rate for satellite transmissions

20. WMO Tariff Negotiating Schemes

21. Cryptic notes 1 of 2 • Develop financial strategy which is compatible with both Government and communication strategies • END TO END SERVICE (NON STOP) to Address WMO/IOC/other user as well as very importantly GFCS needs • We have heard of a very successful JTA method of a Specific Tariff Negotiating scheme • Data quality, availability and quantity • Address gaps in data sparse areas • Affordable communication (negotiate service and price) • Timeously provision of data • User be able to make informed decisions

22. Cryptic notes 2 of 2 • Uniform data processing and management (QC, dissemination, archive and metadata) • Reliable and sustainable • Cost recovery finance model as some indicated price is flexible • Negotiate tariff rates (5 year plan more services and lower cost) • Matching needs with system capabilities • What is real time data (define) • FAIL SAFE CONCEPT • Charge in system usage • Scale process and various prices for various users

23. Summary points 1 of 4 • Choice of the user/ user community depends on several aspects. Like timeliness, availability and size of tags, support of a certain application, sustainability of the service provider. • Each of the options would need a specific set of Operating Principles. • Since the various service providers are so different in nature (although some of them are relatively close to each other, the end-to-end service (based on user requirements and quality standards set by the user: that is what the user community is looking for) will be definition not be the same to all users.

24. Summary points 2/4 • The Forum as a Market place where all service providers have a “stand” • No real change from the current situation, but all players are now at one place. The user can go shopping, individual negotiation and standard service provision. • Those systems that are free to use - Met Satellites. The cost of the satellites and the associated ground systems is borne by Agencies. In the case of EUMETSAT it is the member states and WMO Programmes. For NOAA and JMA their Governments. There are restrictions on use - it must be environmental data and be made available on the GTS

25. Summary points 3/4 • Those that are run on a cost reimbursement model – Argos • The Forum as the provider of the same service by all service providers (in accordance with global requirements and quality standards). The users negotiate separately outside the Forum with each of the service providers for the most attractive tariff (depending on the application, not every service provider provides the same service or application). • The Forum has stands in accordance with the required application: drifters, wildlife, etc. providing the same service following international agreed standards. • Same tariff at each stand • Different tariff between the service providers of a stand (to be negotiated)

26. Summary points 4/4 • Those that come under a “free” market - Iridium, Orbcomm, Inmarsat, Globalstar. Here it interesting to analyse whether a body such as the Forum acting on behalf of Users, could be in a position to negotiate better prices or whether the role is more to give users indicative information on prices. The resources / governance issues required for each role would be very different. The diversity of users and user requirements will also have to be taken into account. Additionally each satellite operator operates different business models - resellers with Iridium, and directly with Orbcomm and • Tariff structure could be purchase usage in advance for a day / month / year or normal, invoice style

27. Graphical Proposal

28. Recommendations • The ad hoc International Forum of Users of Satellite Data Telecommunication Systems (Satcom Forum, Paris, France, 3-4 October 2013) made the following recommendations: • (1) Recommendations regarding the use of the Inmarsat satellite data telecommunication system: • (i) Inmarsat is used for moored data buoys and tsunami buoys for transmission of data terminal to terminal and terminal to server. For many countries including India, Inmarsat is Government approved satellite telecommunication for such critical data transfer applications. Inmarsat may appreciate this societal need and the meeting stressed that Inmarsat should continue services of SAT C transmitter which is suitable for Buoy applications and all buoy systems have developed with suitable hardware and software capability. This technology is well accepted and proven and hence should be retained and should not be withdrawn;

29. Recommendations continue • (ii) Inmarsat charges vary from Land Earth Station (LES) and there would be value in establishing common tariff arrangement among all LES operators / Service providers; • (iii) Efforts should be made to prioritize and sensitize tsunami buoy transmitter for quick transfer of data. Inmarsat can propose specific serial numbers, and the LES should ensure transfer within 3 minutes of the data required for tsunami early warning; • (iv) Being many government approved satellite communication, Inmarsat should not withdraw SAT C unless an alternative plan should be made available for the scientific community; • (v) On the technological improvisation, transceiver manufacturers could be asked to provide Inmarsat transceiver to have additional USB based connectivity port to interface with desktop PC / Laptop PC, since desktop’s & Laptop’s with serial ports are getting obsolete;

30. Recommendations continue • (vi) Inmarsat LES provides very good service and are available for support. However at times when specific issues are faced a working mechanism with Inmarsat HQ/LES and Buoy operators could be evolved to address transmission issues faced by Buoy operators; • (vii) Inmarsat can consider providing data transfer as free service as they are linked to societal application as weather services being provided to Ships. Mooed buoy data are also made available to global community in GTS.

31. Recommendations continue • (2) For operational systems (and in particular for disaster risk reduction purposes), any GPRS/GSM telemetry solution should be supported by a backup Satcom system, and Satcom service providers need to recognize their importance in this regard and not impose punitive fixed charges for a backup service; • (3) A certification process should be established for companies providing GTS data distribution service on the basis of environmental data collected via satellite; • (4) To develop guiding materials with inclusion of synthetic description of the capabilities of the relevant Satcom systems, using metrics to be agreed upon;

32. Recommendations continue • (5) To establish a mechanism to allow for a useful dialogue to take place between the users and the Satcom service providers in particular for (i) informing Satcom providers about the user requirements; and (ii) informing users about the Satcom capabilities. Appropriate metrics should be developed for both aspects; • (6) In order to facilitate communication between Satcom users, Satcom service providers, and equipment manufacturers, explore the use of • (i) conferences and expositions where users would make scientific and technical presentation, and vendors would be offered table to display their equipments; • (ii) social media (explore existing sites, and define #hashtags), and • (iii) Internet forums like Wikipedia;

33. Recommendations continue • (7) Investigate whether tariff for low data rate applications could be negotiated with the Satcom service providers; • (8) To consider placing the Satcom Forum not only under the umbrella of the CBS, but also of JCOMM, so that the Satcom Forum becomes a joint JCOMM-CBS body; • (9) To widen the scope of the Forum as much as possible in terms of the user communities represented, and to approach organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF28), Movebank29, and Bio-Logging30 in the view to invite them to join the Forum as co-sponsors; • (10) To analyse six months of traffic from Argos JTA platforms by platform class in the view to highlight actual use of the system and to do a comparison with the Argos charges paid by the users of each class.

34. Thank You!