SATELLITE

TECHNOLOGY

& INNOVATIONUSE CASES FOR THE UNICEF

INNOVATION FUND - APRIL 2016

This publication is a market research study

commissioned for UNICEF Innovation. The case

studies mentioned and companies reflected in this

document are hypothetical and do not necessarily

reflect the views or intentions of UNICEF.

STEPHEN DENG

SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

2

SATELLITE SYSTEMS ARE USED TO TRANSMIT DATA FROM SPACE TO A POINT ON THE EARTH

AND HELP BOUNCE SIGNALS FROM ONE POINT ON THE EARTH TO ANOTHER

Right now, two major use cases involve using satellites

to bring voice and internet data to remote areas, or to

use satellites to take pictures of the Earth from space

In the future, as satellites become smaller and cheaper,

connectivity will become more affordable, and imagery

will automatically identify useful information

• Low-bandwidth digital education

• Intermittent access to information

• Digitized measurement and evaluation

• Intermittent image-based population

tracking with manual counting

• Logistics monitoring and planning

• Emergency response and preparation

• Rich-multimedia, internet-connected digital education

• Persistent access to information

• Access to online marketplaces and services

• Participatory digitized measurement and evaluation

• Automated and frequent population, logistics, and

emergency response image-based algorithms

• Additional functionality including image-based

poverty mapping

SATELLITE PARTNERSHIPS OVERVIEW

3

2. MARKET OPPORTUNITY 3. JOINT RESEARCH1. CURRENT NEEDS

UN

ICE

F

SA

TE

LL

ITE

PA

RT

NE

RS Satellite partners want to provide

and showcase access and imagery

opportunities with UNICEF using

current technologies and UNICEF’s

brand to highlight its CSR approach

UNICEF wants to increase access

for the needs that can be addressed

now, capitalizing on situations where

variable costs are low for the satellite

partner to expand long-term access

to connectivity and the use of

imagery

Satellite partners look to create real

shared-value, where new, high-growth

markets and use-cases may help fend

off the increasing commodification of

satellite technologies

UNICEF hopes to provide assistance

with demand aggregation and

partnership facilitation that may result in

more a sustainable network of

connectivity and imagery providers

using current and near-term

technologies

Satellite partners are looking to adapt

or disrupt the market altogether with

new satellite platforms, analysis tools,

and ground equipment to lower prices

and increase capability of satellite tech

UNICEF is a close research partner,

helping provide access to spectrum,

assisting with pilots in emerging

markets, and ground-truthing results in

an effort to confirm a new technology’s

use in UNICEF’s mission as well as the

R&D goals of UNICEF’s partners

A tiered partnership approach that capitalizes on current needs to increase access to satellite

technologies, seeks out opportunities in a quickly changing marketplace, and collaborates on research

that can truly shift cost and capability

SATELLITE SYSTEMS ARE USED TO TRANSMIT DATA

FROM SPACE TO A POINT ON THE EARTH

4Photo Credit: BBC

DISTINCT ADVANTAGES

1 HIGH COVERAGESatellites can quickly receive and transmit

information across the entire globe

3 LOW INFRASTRUCTUREGround equipment can be deployed quickly, and

in certain cases, be battery and/or solar-powered

HIGH MOBILITY2Satellite services are transportable, from small

terminals on automobiles to hand-held devices

MOST SATELLITES ARE MADE OF TWO COMPONENTS:

THE BUS, WHICH HELPS DELIVER THE PAYLOAD

5

THE BUS

• Power Subsystems

• Telemetry and Command Subsystems

• Altitude and Control Subsystems

• Propulsion Subsystems

1

SATELLITE STRUCTURE & SUPPORT

• Signal Repeaters

• Antennas

• Note: Payloads can be “hosted” for independent

satellite service providers

THE PAYLOAD2

SIGNAL EQUIPMENT AND SENSORS

Example GEO Satellite

HIGHER ORBITS OFFER GLOBAL COVERAGE WITH

FEWER SATELLITES, BUT INCREASED SIGNAL DELAY

6

Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO)

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

In comparison, the moon’s orbit is 384,000 km away

• 35,789 km above sea-level

• 250-280 millisecond propagation delay

• 3 satellites to cover most of the globe

• In a fixed position above the Earth

Mid-Earth Orbit (MEO)

• 2,000 to 35,789 km above sea-level

• 110-130 millisecond propagation delay

• 10-18 satellites to cover most of the globe

• Revolves around the Earth in 2 to 12 hours

• 180 to 2,000 km above sea-level

• 20-25 millisecond propagation delay

• 40-70 satellites to cover most of the globe

• Revolves around the Earth in about 90 minutes

THE ITU HAS DEFINED SPECIFIC MICROWAVE

FREQUENCIES TO BE USED IN SATELLITE SERVICES

7

Band Frequency Usage

L 1-2 GHz Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)

S 2-4 GHzMSS, Digital Audio Radio

Services (DARS)

C 4-8 GHz Fixed Satellite Services (FSS)

X 8 -12 GHzMilitary, Satellite Imagery

Downlink

Ku 12-18 GHzFSS, Broadcast Satellite Services

(BSS)

Ka 26-40 GHzFSS Broadband and inter-

satellite links

Incre

asin

g

Wave

length

Incre

asin

g

Fre

qu

en

cy

The Ka-band is being used in the latest satellite

communication technologies, but is far more

susceptible to interference in rain

MSS and FSS are simply ITU designations

defined by the user terminal (mobile or fixed)

and the segments are quickly overlapping due to

the evolution of mobile FSS terminals such as

Very-Small-Aperture Terminals (VSATs).

TWO ESTABLISHED SATELLITE SERVICES INCLUDE

SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY AND REMOTE IMAGERY

8

VOICE & DATA CONNECTIVITYSatellites can provide a nearly-instant communications channel

that is always up and accessible from anywhere

REMOTE IMAGERYSatellites can take high-resolution images of the Earth on a

daily basis and capture a variety of visual information

SATELLITES HELP EXTEND CONNECTIVITY INTO THE

MOST REMOTE “LAST-MILE” SITUATIONS

9

SATELLITE COMMUNICATION NETWORK

1 SPACE SEGMENTBounces the signals from space to the Earth.

3 USER TERMINALSDevices for end-users to connect with the satellite

signal. Examples include satellite-specific phones,

satellite dishes, and Wi-Fi hotspots.

GROUND SEGMENT2“Translates” the signal so it can communicate with

landlines, mobile phones, and/or the internet. Can

also serve as way to move the signal.

Satellite

Wi-Fi Hotspot

Satellite Assembly

(VSAT)

Satellite Mobile

Internet

Mobile Network

Ground Station

1

3

2

…BUT QUICK-DEPLOY VSATS OFFER A SUPERIOR

COMBINATION OF MOBILITY AND CONNECTION SPEED

11

Inmarsat IsatHub

• 850g

• 179 x 170 x 30 mm

• 200 Kbps

GD Satcoms 1244

• 2.4 meters

• 256 to 3072 kbps

Thuraya XT

• 193g

• 128 x 53 x 27 mm

• 60 Kbps GD Satcoms 1138QD

• 1.2 meters

• 256 to 3072 kbps

Connectivity Speed

Eq

uip

me

nt

Mo

bil

ity

Satellite Mobile Phone

Wi-Fi Hotspot Quick-Deploy VSAT

Fixed VSAT

SATELLITES ENABLE DAILY, SUB-METER PER PIXEL

IMAGES OF THE EARTH

12

SATELLITE IMAGERY NETWORK

1 SPACE SENSORCaptures various wavelengths of light coming from the

Earth which are converted to pixels by the sensors

3 DATA PLATFORMImagery data is then able to be accessed,

analyzed, and represented in software

DOWNLINK2Sends the information down to datacenters on the

ground to convert pixels into data

Imaging Satellite

Data & Analytics

Platform

Downlink

1

2

3

Light from the

Earth

Note: There is an outstanding overview of satellite imagery at http://satsummit.github.io/landscape

SATELLITE IMAGERY SERVICES HAVE FOUR MAIN

MEASURES OF “RESOLUTION”

13

1

What area is covered and in how much

detail?

3

What wavelengths of light can be picked

up by the sensors?

2

How often do satellites “revisit” the same

areas for capture?

4

How sensitive is the sensor in detecting

differences within the image? (e.g.

brightness)

4 RADIOLOGICAL

3 SPECTRAL

2 TEMPORAL

1 SPATIALDifferent spatial resolutions

covering and American

football field – measured in

meters per pixel

The electromagnetic

spectrum – satellites imagery

can often measure visible,

UV, and IR light, depending

on spectral resolution

IMAGERY COSTS DEPEND ON SPECTRAL AND SPATIAL

RESOLUTION AS WELL AS ARCHIVAL OR NEW IMAGES

14

Spectral Resolution0.5m High Spatial Resolution 1.5m Medium Spatial Resolution

Archive New Task Archive New Task

Panchromatic $10-14.50/km2 $23-24/km2 $3.90/km2 $4.50/km2

3-Band Pan-Sharpened $10-17.50/km2 $23-27.50/km2 $5.15/km2 $6.20/km2

4 Band Pan-Sharpened $10-17.50/km2 $23-27.50/km2 $5.15/km2 $6.20/km2

Panchromatic + 4-band

Multispectral$10-17.50/km2 $23-27.50/km2 $5.15/km2

(6m Multispectral)

$6.20/km2

(6m Multispectral)

8-Band Multispectral $20/km2 $31.50/km2

8-Band Panchromatic +

Multispectral$20/km2 $31.50/km2

At lower spatial resolutions (e.g. 5m

or 6m per pixel) prices drop to

approx. $1.70/km2

*Note: Prices from an image reseller for older, more traditional satellites (e.g. WorldView-1,2,3, QuickBird, GeoEye-1, IKONOS, RapidEye)

47% OF SATELLITE INDUSTRY REVENUE COMES FROM

SATELLITE TV

15

Global Satellite Industry Revenues (2014)

Total: $203B

4% Growth

Satellite

Services

$122.9B

Ground

Equip.

$58.3B

Launch Industry

$5.9B

Satellite

Manufacturing

$15.9B

Global Satellite Services Revenue (2014)

Total: $122.9B

4% Growth

Consumer*

$100.9B

Fixed

$17.1B

Mobile

$3.3B

Earth

Observation

$1.6B

*In Consumer Services,Satellite TV makes up

94% while Consumer Broadband makes up <2%

SATELLITE SERVICES HAVE EXPERIENCED SLOWING

GROWTH OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS…

16

Global Satellite Service Revenues (2009 to 2014)

…BUT NEW SERVICES LIKE MOBILE DATA AND

SATELLITE IMAGERY ARE EXPANDING RAPIDLY

17

Segment Services 2014 Segment

Market Share

2014 Segment

GrowthDrivers of Growth

Consumer • Satellite TV

• Satellite Radio

• Consumer Broadband 82% 3%

The consumer segment grew by 3% in 2014 and

was driven by the growth of high definition

television and bandwidth savings from compression

tech

Fixed (FSS) • Transponder Agreements

• Managed Network Services 14% 4%Seeing growth of 4% in 2014 that matches the

overall growth of the satellite industry but saw no

growth in 2013

Mobile (MSS) • Mobile Data

• Mobile Voice2.6% 25%

Strongest segment with 25% growth in 2014, driven

by 19% growth in mobile voice and 27% growth in

mobile data supported by demand from the aviation

industry

Earth

Observation

• Remote Imaging

• Imagery Analysis 1.3% 9%Encouraging growth of 9% in 2014 supported by

strong demand (mostly gov’t) and new competitors

in remote imaging and meteorology

IN FSS/MSS, SEVERAL PROVIDERS COVER THE GLOBE

WHILE SMALLER ONES FOCUS ON GEO OR SECTOR

18

FSS and MSS Satellite Service Providers

Global Providers

Example Regional/Sector-Specific Providers

FSS and MSS providers now often

compete in the same markets due

to newer terminals that allow high-

frequency and high-bandwidth

(traditionally FSS) signals to be

used on moving platforms

There are services providers that

operate satellites and service

providers that resell others’ satellite

bandwidth (e.g. Talia and

Paradigm)

Smaller providers specialize in

region and/or sector (e.g. XTAR &

Paradigm’s focus on military

support)

THE EARTH OBSERVATION SERVICES SECTOR IS SEEING

INCREASED COMPETITION FROM NEW ENTRANTS

19

Traditional companies like DigitalGlobe feel the

competition of new entrants like Planet Labs and Skybox

(acquired by Google, now Terra Bella) who seek to

operate “constellations” of small, low-cost satellites.

The customer base of imagery is beginning to expand

from primarily governments to the private sector as well

These newer companies offer not only images, but an

API-driven data platform that can help filter and analyze

its satellite images. Older players are still using physical

media (DVD, external HD) to deliver images, or a web-

based FTP.

Satellite sensors are also being used to help produce

higher fidelity weather data (e.g. Spire, Tempest Global,

etc.)

Re

mo

te Im

ag

ing

an

d S

en

sin

g P

rovid

ers

SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY WILL BECOME SMALLER,

CHEAPER, AND MORE UBIQUITOUS

20

Present Next Generation (0-2 yrs) Future Generations (2-5+ yrs)

• Mobile Satellite Phones

• Satellite Wi-Fi Hotspots

• Quick-Deploy VSATS

• Much smaller and cheaper

low-earth orbit satellites with

API-based analytics platforms

• Satellite imagery-based

weather monitoring

• Large geostationary imagery

satellites

• Ground-based stations for

weather monitoring

• Flexible spot-beam high-

throughput satellite (HTS)

services

Project Loon

Internet via

balloons in space

Nano & Pico Satellites

Continued development

and launches of smaller

satellites

Outernet

Downlink satellite-

based edu w/o internet

OneWeb

Extending mobile

networks using a global

satellite constellation

GPS-RO

Satellites that track

the bending of GPS

signals to estimate

weather conditions

Research & DevelopmentPilotsScaling Up

Solar Drones

Internet via solar-

powered drones

NEAR TERM ADVANCES WILL HELP DRIVE DOWN

COSTS AND INCREASE COMPETITION IN THE MARKET

21

EXPANSION OF HIGH-THROUGHPUT SATELLITES (HTS)

HTS reduces the cost of

providing gigabit connectivity

from space by 90 to 97%,

depending on the band,

because it offers much higher

capacity per payload

The increase in capacity HTS offers

is a result of high-level frequency re-

use and spot beam technology which

enables multiple, very focused beams

used to cover an area.

By contrast, traditional satellite

technology utilizes a broad single

beam or a few beams.

• While not new, HTS are

being accelerated due to

demand from industries like

commercial airlines for

onboard Wi-Fi

• Available bandwidth

increases with multi-beam

technology, especially in

the Ka-band

NANOSATS AND THE COMMODIFICATION OF SATELLITE TECH

Nanosats (and their

payloads) cost hundreds of

thousands of USD instead of

the hundreds of millions for

previous generation satellites

Satellites have shrunk down

to the size of a shoebox;

“CubeSat” standard is about

a liter in volume and 1.33 kg

The cost reduction comes from the

use of constellations of satellites in

low-earth orbit to provide global

coverage.

The satellites are built with many off-

the-shelf parts from consumer

industries (e.g. smartphones, cars)

and can be launched more cheaply –

SpaceX now has a reusable rocket

• Cheaper tech and launch

mechanisms mean private-

sector start-ups can now

launch satellites

• Downsizing of sensors offer

capabilities that previously

could not fit on nanosats

• Built to be Big Data

platforms: “Satellite

Imagery As A Service”

CASE STUDY: GOOGLE’S PROJECT LOON EXTENDS CURRENT

MOBILE NETWORKS BUT REQUIRE SPECTRUM RIGHTS

22

Project Loon: 4G internet via balloons

Technology • A network of balloons in the stratosphere controlled through

wind patterns; each balloon can last more than 100 days

• Each balloon broadcasts LTE/4G signal to an area of about

80km on the ground directly to handsets and ground stations

• Connectivity speeds of about 5 MB/s to handsets

• Google partners with local mobile network providers to share

cellular spectrum and connect to the internet

Significance • Very low infrastructure since handsets can directly connect to

the LTE signal that is being broadcasted by the balloons

• Extends current terrestrial-based mobile networks to the most

remote areas using a relatively high-throughput signal

Companies • Internally funded Google[X] project with mobile operator

partners in each country

Timeline • In a scaling-up phase with large country-level projects

• Started a country-wide project with Sri Lanka in 2015, plans

for a similar project in Indonesia in 2016

Barriers • It is unclear how Google plans to create a profitable business

model; it may attempt to share revenues with mobile phone

operators, but pricing is unclear

• Spectrum rights are difficult to obtain with incumbent operators

Much like a mobile phone tower in

the sky

UNICEF opportunity: to help shape the development

of a cheaper, globally accessible 4G LTE network by

assisting with spectrum rights and demand

aggregation

CASE STUDY: OUTERNET OFFERS SLOW, BUT FREE SATELLITE

DATA ACCESS THROUGH ITS OWN RECEIVERS

23

Outernet: Delivering educational files over satellite for free

Technology • A downlink-only satellite data access point used to broadcast

curated educational material over Wi-Fi for free; costs $99

• 50ft of Wi-Fi range; up to 5 devices connected (expandable)

• Requires more equipment including an external satellite dish

that adds $60+ to the cost

Significance • Aiming to create a low-cost, open-source satellite data access

point to provide educational resources everywhere

• Outernet sends files for offline consumption, not links

• In development for a portable, solar-powered access point that

can connect to ViaSat’s L-band satellite signal

• Starting an open content platform that allows user contribution

Companies • Outernet, partnership with ViaSat, content providers

Timeline • In the late R&D phase with some pilots started using its current

products, including in 1,000 schools in Latin America

• Plans to deliver its portable, solar-powered “Lantern” access

point in Summer 2016

Barriers • Team is struggling to finalize the design for its portable product,

needing robustness, solar-power, and usable UI

• Will be difficult to localize content for regional needs

The Outernet “Lighthouse” receiver

costs $99, but still needs an external

satellite dish, a downconverter and

cabling

UNICEF opportunity: to usher in free, but low-

bandwidth satellite connectivity by assisting with

government access, content creation, and demand

aggregation

CASE STUDY: FACEBOOK’S IMAGE RECOGNITION PLATFORM

USED TO AUTOMATE POPULATION TRACKING

24

Automated Population Mapping via Imagery

Technology • A machine-learning process by which populations can be

estimated using satellite imagery of inhabited areas

• The crucial breakthrough is the ability to automatically identify

buildings and other living structures

• Populations are estimated by comparing the structure

information to currently available census data and extrapolating

that to areas without reliable population figures

Significance • Allows for population tracking that is much quicker, easier, and

cheaper than current survey-based methods

• Automated structure information can help in situations where

there is a lack of previous mapping information

• Facebook will continue to build on the algorithms to attempt to

identify even more than population (e.g. poverty)

Companies • Facebook, license from DigitalGlobe for 0.5 meter imagery

Timeline • Looking to ground-truth its estimates in 2016

Barriers • Additional ground-truthing is needed and Facebook needs

partners who already conduct very granular population surveys

• Currently cannot find changes very quickly due to the images

being derived from a variety of time periods

Machine learning can automatically

identify and visually mark structures

where people live

UNICEF opportunity: to replace expensive and slow

manual surveys with automated population and

poverty mapping by assisting with ground-truthing

CASE STUDY: PERSISTENT SOLAR DRONES MAY OFFER A HIGHLY

MANEUVERABLE “HOTSPOT-ON-DEMAND”

25

Persistent Drones: Internet via laser-enabled drones

Technology • Ground stations will send radio signals to drones which will

communicate with each other via laser; the drones will then

send laser signals back down to transponders which convert

into Wi-Fi or 4G networks

• Facebook aims to launch 10,000 drones called “Aquilas”

• Imagery from these platforms will also be possible

Significance • Another HAPS (High-Altitude Platform Station) type project but

due to its laser-based communications, theoretically offers

very high throughput

• Drones are remotely controllable and can perform as

“hotspots-on-demand” compared to other methods which are

much harder to maneuver

Companies • Facebook, Google

Timeline • In the R&D phase, but hoping to test the first pilot by the end

of 2016

Barriers • No idea about pricing or business model just yet

• The laser technology is hampered by weather

• Free Basics backlash (net neutrality arguments) will linger

when Facebook tries scale-up

Facebook’s Internet drone has the

wingspan of a 737 passenger jet

and can stay aloft for months

UNICEF opportunity: to explore use cases for high-

bandwidth connectivity in the most remote areas; an

early stage initiative

CASE STUDY: LAUNCHING A TRULY GLOBAL CONSTELLATION OF

LEO SATELLITES TO EXPAND CURRENT NETWORKS

26

OneWeb: Extending Current internet networks via microsats

Technology • A constellation of approximately 650 microsatellites orbiting at

750 miles providing global internet access; an estimated price

tag of about $2 billion USD

• Will offer user terminals on the ground that include Wi-

Fi/LTE/3G and 2G radios to provider coverage directly to end-

user handsets and tablets; a mobile terminal available as well

Significance • An extension of existing networks, not a replacement so

unlicensed and partner operator’s frequencies can be used

• Technology will be fully 3GPP compatible

Companies • OneWeb, backed 50% by Airbus to assemble microsats,

contracts with Arianespace SA to use rockets for launch

Timeline • In the research and development phase and pushing to launch a

commercial service by 2020

• Plans to launch first 10 pilot satellites in 2017

• Satellite assembly

Barriers • There is pushback about OneWeb’s ability to avoid interference

with other satellites at that lower orbit; OneWeb claims they

have a technology called Progressive Pitch that allows them to

tilt their microsats to avoid interference

OneWeb plans to launch and

maintain 648 satellites

encircling the Earth

UNICEF opportunity: to explore use cases for

ubiquitous satellite connectivity in the most remote

areas; an early stage initiative

CASE STUDY: NANOSATS CAN DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE

VOLUME OF WEATHER DATA BY READING GPS SIGNALS

27

GPS-RO: Using nanosats to vastly improve weather data

Technology • Nanosatellites that can sense the bending of GPS signals

(from established GPS satellites). The amount of bending in

the GPS signals allow for calculations of temperature,

pressure, and humidity in a process called GPS Radio

Occultation (GPS-RO)

Significance • The main benefits include a vastly increased volume (1,500 to

10,000+) of accurate weather data that can help remove the

errors in today’s complicated weather modeling

• More accurate predictive modeling will provide more effective

warnings of adverse weather conditions and disasters

Companies • Spire Global, GeoOptics, PlanetIQ

Timeline • Still in the early piloting, with Spire launching its first satellites

at the end of 2015 and competitors following suite in 2016 and

beyond

Barriers • Unclear much of an advancement in weather prediction a

constellation of nanosats can practically provide

• Business model is unproven with uncertainly around pricing,

partnerships, and value-chain

Using GPS signals to produce tens

of thousands of weather data

points every day

UNICEF opportunity: to improve weather prediction

models for emergency preparedness and food

security; an early stage initiative

SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY AND IMAGING HAS USE-

CASES THAT SPAN A BREADTH OF UNICEF FOCUSES

28

SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY SATELLITE IMAGERY

Education • Internet-connected digital learning hotspots in

remote areas

• Quickly updated and pertinent educational

content

• Educational content creation around

archeology, environment, and geography

Access to Information • Internet-connected hotspots to distribute

critical information around health, agriculture,

local news, etc.

• Road and logistics information for product and

service delivery

• Localized evidence of the effect of global

warming and climate change

Measurement and

Evaluation

• Digitized M&E tools to share information more

quickly and effectively

• Participatory survey schemes (i.e. U-Report)

• Image-based population and poverty mapping

in areas where field surveys are impossible or

too slow and/or costly (e.g. refugee camps)

Emergency Preparedness

and Response

• Two-way communication in the most remote

areas where terrestrial infrastructure does not

exist or has been damaged

• Hyper-local population and building maps to

target search and rescue

• Danger and damage assessments

THERE ARE “QUICK-WIN” USE CASES FOR SATELLITE

IMAGERY AND HIGH-POTENTIAL FOR IMAGE ANALYSIS

29

Country Issues Current Solutions Improved Solutions

Jordan: Refugee

Populations

• The growth of difficult to reach

asylum-seeking population at

the Syrian border is growing

rapidly

• Need population data without

access to ground surveying

• Through OCHA/UNHCR

partnership with Digital Globe

they receive high resolution

(40 cm) analyzed images, but

only few times a year

• UNOSAT is supporting with

lower resolution analyzed

images every 3 months

• Monthly, high-resolution imagery (0.5-meter

or better), for manual or automated

population mapping and counting

• Could use better imagery ASAP

• Other country offices with refugee situations

also have population tracking problems

Mozambique:

Urbanization and

Slums

• Mozambique has urbanization

occurring with a high poverty

concentration in slums

• Population surveys are

extensive and difficult due to

poor digital connectivity

• No great solutions; some

field surveys but there is a

general lack of information

about population and poverty

• Google Maps have helped

• Low frequency, medium resolution imagery to

identify the location and growth of slum

communities in Mozambique

• Poverty mapping through imagery to identify

pockets of poverty within urbanized areas

Brazil: Logistics

on the Amazon

River

• The Amazon region

communities are spread out,

remote and rely upon the river

for transportation, but lack of

information about the river

leads to failed logistics

• UNICEF itself has no access

to river data other than

limited government data

based on weather modelling

• Daily, lower-resolution imagery to identify

Amazon river conditions that can be

accessed via mobile (trips can be 2-weeks)

• Generally, even better mapping of smaller

remote communities along the river would be

beneficial for service delivery

CONNECTIVITY IS TOO COSTLY AND MOST USE CASES

DEMAND CHEAPER SOLUTIONS TO USE & MAINTAIN

30

Country Issues Current Solutions Improved Solutions

Brazil: Internet

“Hotspots” for

Education

• Need to provide

secondary education

resources for 35,000 to

40,000 people

• Universities, Health

Centers, and Technical

Education Centers also

hope to provide

material via internet

• The Ministry of Education is

providing 3,000 centers with

an expensive satellite

internet connection

(~$1000/month in cost)1

• Ministry of Health,

Universities, etc. are also

paying for their own

connected centers

• In the short term, access points like the Outernet receiver,

combined with Wi-Fi caching would be a much cheaper

way to download and digitally distribute materials

• In the longer term, a cheaper overall solution needs to be

developed; Google Loon has specifically built its system to

provide service through Brazil’s cloud coverage and would

be a useful partner for the government; Loon is looking for

spectrum assistance and aggregation of users and the

Brazilian government wants to reduce their delivery costs

Kenya: Wi-Fi

Cached

Information

• Providing life-saving

content to rural

communities around

topics such as

Agriculture, Health,

Learning, Education,

Entrepreneurship, and

News & Entertainment

• Partnered with Equity Bank,

Inmarsat, and MAMA to

provide Wi-Fi access points

to 10 schools and 190

merchant agent sites

• Using Wi-Fi caching to

provide offline access;

internet access is simply to

update the services

• Expensive to scale and

maintain

• An Outernet-like self-contained mobile receiver could be

the next generation of these Wi-Fi caching hotspots. The

Outernet receiver will be based off of commercially

available components (e.g. the compute module is

Raspberry Pi 3), will not require a separate satellite dish,

and will be solar powered. Most importantly, data usage

with Outernet is free.

• Improving bandwidth allows for richer media (e.g. videos,

interactive programs) to deliver more compelling content

[1] Based on a quick conversation with Gabriel Ribenboim from Fundacao Amazonas Sustentavel

Satellite connectivity providers want access

to a growing market while developing more

affordable and effective technologies

UNICEF HAS SEVERAL LEVERS TO NEGOTIATE

PARTNERSHIPS AND A WEALTH OF VALUE TO PROVIDE

31

UN

ICE

F

Satellite Connectivity

Providers

Satellite Imagery

Providers

Connectivity & Imagery

Start-Ups

• Use of Intermittent data to refresh contents of Wi-Fi caching

• Use of lower-throughput bands for smaller data needs

• Use of satellite connections during “non-peak” hours1

• Government relationship broker

• Aggregation of demand (e.g. entire regions of schools, hospitals, etc.)

• Locally relevant content and physical access points on the ground

• Trusted field workers and implementation partners

Satellite imagery providers want to find new

use cases for their imagery and make the

jump to more commercial applications and

fend off new entrants

New players want funding and expertise,

assistance with pilots and ground-truthing,

and policy change to allow competition with

incumbents

• Use of archival footage when possible to reduce costs

• Use of lower resolution imagery while addressing needs

• Government relationship broker

• Research partner and test-bed for new use cases

• Ground-truthing to confirm accuracy of image analytics

• Government relationship broker; especially for spectrum rights

• Aggregation of demand to generate economies of scale quickly

• Research partner to help improve new technologies

• Expertise in innovation, design, and in-country implementation

• Early adoption of new technologies to help shape its ability

to lower costs and increase accessibility and capability

[1] Non-peak hours are generally 2am to 8am local time; some start earlier at around 11pm depending on regional usage

SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY COULD USE ADDITIONAL

INNOVATION AND DEV ASSISTANCE FROM UNICEF

33

UNICEF Needs Use Cases Potential Partner Solutions Market Cost

Affordable,

satellite-based

Wi-Fi caching

Intermittent connectivity to

update digital education

materials. Providing life-

saving information at the

right time.

• Outernet’s current Lighthouse fixed Wi-Fi

hotspot and planned mobile L-band access

point

• Wi-Fi caching and down-link only are still

very useful

• Fixed equipment kit runs about $200

per location while the target price for

mobile L-band solutions are unknown

• Outernet has a business model that

offers free access

Affordable

extension of

cellular

networks

Long-term access

solutions to replace ad-

hoc solutions and

stimulate an inclusive

digital economy

• Google’s Project Loon, 4G LTE connectivity

• OneWeb LEO Satellites and Ground

Receivers

• High-fixed cost to develop, promote,

and test solutions

• Google Loon: “Very expensive with

small numbers but can be very cheap at

scale”