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Mx-DMA® MRC

With the ongoing space segment innovations such as more powerful HTS satellites and integration with 5G networks, it is critical to make advancements in ground segment technology, or New Ground, to harness the benefits of new space capabilities. One such innovation from ST Engineering iDirect is the development of the industry’s most efficient, dynamic return technology with its Mx-DMA® waveform. The patented multiple-access scheme combines the efficiency of SCPC with the flexibility and scalability of MF-TDMA resulting in the intelligent utilization of total bandwidth.

  • Our Innovation Story

    In 2014, Mx-DMA HRC (high resolution coding) first answered the SCPC versus MF-TDMA return technology dilemma by combining the best of both worlds. This was a milestone for the market. In 2016, Mx-DMA was awarded the “Best Ground Segment Technology” Stellar award at VSAT Global. In 2020, the Dialog platform, on which Mx-DMA is a key technology, was named Teleport Technology of the Year, by the World Teleport Association.

    Now we have taken Mx-DMA to another level, adding ground-breaking dimensions of scalability and service agility. We have extended the availability of Mx-DMA to large-scale networks and expanded the applicability of the technology to include a full spectrum of use cases.

    The introduction of Mx-DMA MRC (multi-resolution coding) brings forth the full scalability of TDMA return technologies to the same SCPC-like efficiency level of Mx-DMA HRC. Achieving this level of scalability and adaptivity while adding the dimension of time required a more innovative approach to the access scheme. The result is 25 times faster bandwidth allocation along with the ability to now support over 5,000 active terminals per hub demodulator significantly reducing the hardware needed at the hub. These advancements allow Service Providers to efficiently share the bandwidth across many different use cases while achieving the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) and improving service agility, network scalability and capacity fill efficiency.

    Read more in the Satellite Markets & Research feature, Simply the Best: Mx-DMA MRC for All Applications.  

  • Overview

    The Industry’s Most Efficient, Dynamic Return Technology

    ST Engineering iDirect’s Mx-DMA® incorporates the best features of MF-TDMA and SCPC technologies, solving the difficult choice of having to select one or the other. Featured on the Newtec Dialog® platform, Mx-DMA MRC (multi-resolution coding) seamlessly adapts to changing network traffic and link conditions, without introducing TDMA-like jitter and latency, maximizing the utilization of available bandwidth resources.

    Based on return traffic demand, Mx-DMA MRC adjusts the frequency plan, symbol rate, modulation, burst length, code block size, and power in real-time for every terminal in the satellite network. Mx-DMA MRC also adjusts Quality of Service (QoS) definition, BUC characteristics and channel conditions for thousands of terminals. There is no need for cumbersome trade-offs in predefining return carrier plans for a mix of terminal and service types, associated with MF-TDMA return technologies, as Mx-DMA MRC orchestrates the allocation of the available capacity automatically. It is a self-organizing return technology operating at industry-leading efficiencies in shared return capacity and at the lowest possible cost.

    With Mx-DMA MRC, Service Providers are able to serve all customer profiles with a single return link, minimizing operational complexity and maximizing statistic multiplexing for unprecedented levels of agility, scalability, and efficiency.

  • MRC In Action

    Pyramid Diagram
    ST Engineering iDirect’s Mx-DMA MRC ensures the highest efficiency, flexibility and scalability for any application, from very bursty traffic to fixed bitrate services. In one network Mx-DMA MRC can easily support a wide range of applications from very bursty low data rate traffic, with a high degree of overbooking, such as is typically found in SCADA, PoS and consumer or SOHO broadband, all the way to the higher fixed bit rate applications needed for cellular backhaul and maritime applications. Those higher throughput services typically also require SCPC-like low jitter and latency for real-time applications such as videoconferencing or simply to improve the passenger experience. For Cellular Backhaul, MRC allows networks to expand cost-effectively to large-scale rural and ultra-rural communities. It handles bursty and high QoS traffic cost-effectively while managing the most demanding 4G/5G or trunking traffic.

    For SNG, MRC provides the ability to scale easily from very low throughput to maximum throughput to cover all contribution applications. MRC’s support of affordable, large-scale, mixed services networks is ideal for Government social inclusion programs and emergency response. Mx-DMA MRC will seamlessly handle all of these. Service Providers can confidently support any application traffic profile and scale to thousands of terminals in the most efficient manner.

    Terminals with a steady traffic demand will operate similar to a SCPC link, with varying transmission parameters depending on link conditions, but will seamlessly share capacity with highly overbooked terminals carrying bursty traffic. This provides the greatest spectral efficiency for Service Providers and quality of experience for end user customers. Mx-DMA MRC is designed to improve service flexibility and revenue without increasing bandwidth expense for the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO).

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