How the BGAN Application Tester facilitate cost-efficient security testing

Safety and security testing is important, especially when working with sensitive information or important missions. Traditionally, testing of satellite communication systems has been both expensive and time-consuming. Nevertheless, it is essential to have an extensive test setup that represents real-life conditions closely to ensure safety and security.

GateHouse SatCom offers a setup for test of how a system using a BGAN terminal to provide connectivity will work in different situations and under different circumstances. Spectra Group is a customer that has incorporated BAT into a wider SatCom package. With their setup, it is possible to facilitate cost-efficient security testing to improve stability with no expensive airtime for test purposes.

“As a SATCOM solution provider, it is important to be able to offer the ability to test the robustness of solutions. Being able to do so without incurring the cost of airtime is a major advantage for our customers”, says Shaun Barry from Spectra Group.

The GateHouse BGAN Application Tester is connected via an antenna connector placed on a stand in a container to the vehicle mounted terminal via the roof mounted antenna. This setup allows for complete control of the signal to test what happens to the satellite link and connected applications when exposed to noise and interference.    

The BGAN based system transmits and receives signals inside the container. Other antennas create distortions to the signals to and from the terminal, and a BGAN Application Tester from GateHouse emulates the BGAN core system to set up a connection.   

The BGAN Application Tester setup brings the BGAN satellite network into a test bench, allowing clients to simulate a satellite connection for a BGAN, FBB, or SBB terminal. This results in the ability to do end-to-end test of a connected terminal under difficult radio link conditions. 

Distortion and interference constitute a major problem, and it might be necessary to test the system’s robustness. The Satcom package developed by Spectra Group which includes the BAT can be used preventively to emulate impairments to discover how much noise and interference the signal can endure until it becomes insufficient for its purpose. It is already in use by defence organisations in Europe. 

Testing of connected applications and terminals is of utmost importance for improving stability and safety. To be able to test how robust the system is, the antennas in the GateHouse BAT and Spectra setup creates a toxic radio environment, breaking down the connection. To discover how much distortion and interference the system is capable of enduring while still maintaining a secure connection is especially important, as it could mean life or death in a hostile environment, where reliable and resilient voice and data communication is essential.

About the BGAN Application Tester (BAT)

The BAT is a one-box solution to which monitor, keyboard and mouse are connected for the user to operate the BAT. The BAT is connected to the terminal either via coax RF cable or via antenna and RF shielded box, and application-level traffic is routed to an application server or the internet. 

In the emulated environment, an application can connect to and operate a terminal as if it were connected to the live network.

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About Spectra Group

Spectra Group is a leading global provider of tactical and strategic mission-critical communications systems and high-grade information security and network capabilities. 

Working with defense & security, aid & emergency and commercial organizations, Spectra Group specializes in delivering comprehensive, robust, and reliable solutions. 

Spectra delivers outstanding service levels and successful customer outcomes. They do this by drawing on the first-hand experience of creating secure communication networks in the most austere environments and knowledge of satellite service provision that is second-to-none. 

Platinum and gold-level partnerships with the world’s major networking and satellite suppliers enables Spectra Group to put together the best possible airtime packages. It has also developed systems such as SHADE™ and SlingShot®, to provide unique solutions to critical requirements.

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