iDirect Provides Satellite Network Operators With A Diversified Bandwidth Delivery Model Through New Group QoS Functionality Service providers can now dynamically allocate levels of service, allowing multiple end users access to appropriate bandwidth.
By: Aaron Reed Jun. 4, 2007 03:57 PM
HERNDON, Va., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- iDirect Technologies (iDirect), a company of VT Systems Inc, and a global provider of satellite-based, broadband communications solutions, today introduced a new functionality that will enable network operators to better manage and sell satellite bandwidth. By utilizing iDirect's Group Quality of Service (QoS) feature set, operators can now prioritize bandwidth across a diverse range of end user groups and applications, creating tiered service levels that eliminate under-utilized bandwidth and provide a more affordable and diversified service package to their customers.
The Group QoS features provide a more comprehensive set of management tools to remove critical roadblocks that have hindered wider adoption of satellite communications by large enterprises thus far:
-- Service levels can be modified for different groups of remotes, business units, office locations, technology applications, and other specifications established by the network operator. This includes recognizing applications by their bandwidth requirements and ensuring real-time data sharing, videoconferencing and other critical business operations meet pre-determined quality levels. -- Network operators can support customers with diverse user profiles due to either multiple applications and traffic requirements such as VoIP prioritization, or multiple sub-segments, spanning regions, business organizations and end users. -- Under-utilized bandwidth can be reclaimed and reallocated across a satellite network. This allows operators to bundle multiple customers with diverse user profiles onto the same bandwidth, saving space segment costs.
"There is an enormous market opportunity for a technology like iDirect's Group QoS. Network operators must be able to craft service plans that meet the needs of complex and extended enterprises, especially those with diverse subsidiaries and franchise brands. This kind of feature shows how technology development in the industry is constantly creating new business opportunities."
~ Simon BULL, Senior Analyst, COMSYS
COMSYS is a research and consulting firm focused on the satellite communications industry.
"iDirect's Group QoS enables network operators to generate new sales opportunities by improving bandwidth availability and efficiency. Operators can set flexible bandwidth priority levels across an expanded universe of user groups. This allows them to match service plans to their customers' unique and growing bandwidth needs and ensure bandwidth quality as satellite communications usage expands. Our new technology builds on iDirect's QoS capabilities, which have been widely adopted among satellite network operations worldwide."
~ David BETTINGER Chief Technology Officer, iDirect Technology Specifications:
Group QoS supplies network operators with a multi-level delivery model. Each network is equipped with a centralized bandwidth manager that manages requests from a variety of applications. The manager divides the pool of bandwidth among existing service groups, filtering the information to the applications based on priority, cost, committed information rate, and maximum information rate. Each application's usage is evaluated on a repeated basis to constantly improve the overall process. iDirect's Group QoS provides improved packet classification, expanded packet segmentation, and greater control of packet scheduling to maximize network efficiency.
Group QoS will be available with iDS 8.0 software release on all Star and Star/Mesh products.
-------------------- Mike Posts: 567 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Anyone running 8.0 yet? I am pretty sure iDirect released it. Just curious if any of the providers have loaded it and blasted it out to the modems/sat routers.
-------------------- Mike Posts: 567 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2007
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posted
A good evening to all. Mike, I'll check my version tomorrow. Hey, thanks for the link to the pdf on the 3100.
-------------------- F3/D3 3.9.4/iDirect3100/123W/40'EuroTrans 2003 Enterprise Server/10 Workstations/Blackberry 8830 Tethered to MBR1000 Where In The World Am I (click here) Posts: 272 | From: Boca Raton | Registered: Mar 2005
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Thanks David, I was just curious more than anything. I know HQ iDirect (Herndon) is using 8.0. in the lab, but I wasnt sure if any providers have pushed it out to the field and made it their "primetime" iDS.
-------------------- Mike Posts: 567 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2007
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-------------------- F3/D3 3.9.4/iDirect3100/123W/40'EuroTrans 2003 Enterprise Server/10 Workstations/Blackberry 8830 Tethered to MBR1000 Where In The World Am I (click here) Posts: 272 | From: Boca Raton | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Thanks. I am sure the providers are holding off on it. They are probably lab testing it, or letting it 'mature up' before they unload it into the field.
-------------------- Mike Posts: 567 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2007
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8.0.1 has been out for a few weeks now. It is only a matter of time before the providers push it to the field.
Group QOS and Direct Sequence (TDMA) Spread Spectrum are the sexy features of the new iDS. Group QoS is a homerun for large providers like SES, INTELSAT, etc. It will enable them to break down their bandwidth pools (such as an outroute/downstream carrier) into Bandwidth Groups (say 1024, 2048, 4096) for the VNO customers. Then the VNO breaks it down further.
Under the Bandwidth groups it breaks out into the various Service Groups such as Platinum, Gold and Silver (example only, naming is irrelivent to classes of service). Your MIRs and CIRs will be built into those groups.
Below Service groups it breaks out even further. The Service Groups contain Application groups which will contain user profiles (these are service profiles such as the default and any special profiles for specific apps).
I bet it this release has triggered some serious "working groups" at the provider (and VNO) level to brainstorm the overall plan (dissemination of BW to BW Groups, Services groups, and ultimately Application groups containing service profiles).
I will be curious of feedback from the field because if the provider doesnt get this right, the torches and pitchforks are going to come out!
posted
I know this is going to be a breath of fresh air for a lot of commerical providers.
The ability to divide Downstream and Upstream carriers into (MIR/CIR serviced) BW groups is something that commercial has been pressing hard for. It should be a more positive user experience as well.
-------------------- Mike Posts: 567 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2007
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quote:Originally posted by TDMAMike: I know this is going to be a breath of fresh air for a lot of commerical providers. The ability to divide Downstream and Upstream carriers into (MIR/CIR serviced) BW groups is something that commercial has been pressing hard for. It should be a more positive user experience as well.
I sure hope you are right about the "positive user experience" part! These types of bandwidth management (or negatively referred to as traffic shaping) tools are necessary, but have a tendency to be misused by some operators to squeeze more far more customers on a stream than the new software will accommodate and still charge the same price as before with diminished quality....creating anything but a positive experience
[ August 30, 2007, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: Randy VSAT U.S. ]
-------------------- Randy Scott | www.vsatus.com 1.2M | 4W | 123W- atContact 20:1 | iDirect 3100 |TrailManor 2720SL | Winegard Traveler HD | Posts: 606 | From: Monument, CO | Registered: Mar 2005
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Hey, help me out, I am trying to stay positive here!
I think it will be a good thing once it is all refined (maybe painful in the first month) but you are right Randy they will probably pack the stream tight to squeeze as much dollar out of it as possible. What I dont like is that the iDirect unit gets the blame instead of the providers oversubscribed network. Thankfully, that is something I have never had to deal with.
-------------------- Mike Posts: 567 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2007
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quote:Originally posted by TDMAMike:... What I dont like is that the iDirect unit gets the blame instead of the providers oversubscribed network....
True......I've said it many times..."there are over 50 iDirect uplink providers in the U.S. and roughly 10 of them are honest and dependable all of the time."
-------------------- Randy Scott | www.vsatus.com 1.2M | 4W | 123W- atContact 20:1 | iDirect 3100 |TrailManor 2720SL | Winegard Traveler HD | Posts: 606 | From: Monument, CO | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I tell ya what, the more digestion that takes place on 8.X and its Group QoS, makes me realize just HOW POWERFUL of a tool it really is.
The ability to subdivide an Outbound or Inbound BW pool into MIR/CIR capable BW Groups is incredible.
If I were a provider that has purchased no CIR BW in the Outbound or Inbound BW pool, I would be VERY concerned about my customers getting their fair shake when contending for BW against customers (from other providers) that HAVE purchased CIR BW.
Group QoS is perfect for a commercial environment, but it has probably forced some providers into buying a slice of CIR BW on the outbound or upstream BW pool.
M
-------------------- Mike Posts: 567 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2007
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