VSAT Network for Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.
To establish a more efficient and cost-effective telecommunications link between its corporate headquarters in Makati and the remote mine sites, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTN) engaged the services of NewGen IT Corporation to help it build its corporate VSAT Network. VSAT, for Very Small Aperture Terminal, is a 2-way satellite ground station with parabolic antenna that is smaller than 3 meters as compared to around 10 meters for other types of satellite dishes.
The initial objective of the project is to reduce the huge telecommunications cost being incurred by the company in maintaining the communications link between the corporate headquarters in Makati and the administrative offices in the mine sites. Currently, Rio Tuba and its affiliate mining companies, holding its corporate headquarters in the same building, are leasing satellite links from different telecommunication providers to provide voice, fax and data connectivity between its corporate offices and remote mine sites. This setup is expensive and inefficient.
NewGen IT was contracted to conduct a study of RTN's requirements. The company was chosen as the consultant and service provider because of its good reputation as leading provider of network services in the country and its successful implementation of other IT projects with RTN in the past.
NewGen IT proposed the establishment of a private VSAT network. Mr. Carlo P. Linga, NewGen IT's General Manager, says that "putting up your own private satellite network is more cost-effective especially if there are at least three remote sites connected to the main communications hub." Mr. Norberto R. Reyes, Rio Tuba's Vice President for Finance agrees." The initial investment presented to us by NewGen IT can be recovered in less than 2 years ", says Reyes.
A private satellite network is also more efficient. In leased services, unused bandwidth cannot be diverted or reallocated because you have no control over the network link. Only the telecommunications provider can administer the network. In a private network, the administrator in the central hub has complete control in bandwidth allocation. For example, unused bandwidth in one site can be used to increase throughput in a video conferencing session in another site.
After a thorough evaluation, NewGen IT chose Mabuhay Satellite Corporation (MSC) as its technology partner in providing the satellite transponder services. Operating since 1998, MSC has successfully forged its way into the competitive international satellite communications arena by offering video, IP, broadcast and other fully turnkey solutions for clients not only in Asia but also the rest of the world.
The proposed satellite dish is a 2.4 meter C-Band antenna system and components from Andrew Corporation. Andrew Corporation is an end-to-end global manufacturer and supplier of RF systems and solutions. Their product portfolio encompasses traditional wireless networks, 3G technologies, Internet services, and specialized applications in microwave, satellite, radar, HF, and MilSatCom communications.
For the satellite modem, NewGen IT offered the SkySwitch from SatPath Systems, Inc. With corporate headquarters in Fremont, California, SatPath Systems is a privately held corporation founded by a team of talented and experienced engineers. With over 30 years of cumulative experience in commercial satellite and aerospace industry and resources of IT manufacturing expertise globally, SatPath aims to provide the most cost-effective, efficient and innovative VSAT solutions.
Please visit NewGen IT's website at http://www.newgen.net.ph for details.
