At the VSAT 2009 Conference today Intelsat, provider of fixed satellite services, and the Global VSAT Forum (GVF), announced they have agreed to facilitate training for technicians engaged in deployment of state-of-the-art satellite systems. The announcement is part of a new industry initiative to promote an interference-free space environment.

To combat interference, Intelsat launched the Intelsat Interference Management Initiative, or I3, earlier this year. Since its launch in March, Intelsat has partnered with 14 satellite operators, three industry groups, and dozens of customers and equipment manufacturers to make Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) reduction a top priority and to strengthen quality-of-service standards for satellite communications worldwide.

In addition, Intelsat has taken a leadership position in establishing a training and certification program, partnering with the GVF. Intelsat’s three-year program will provide free online training for a number of its customers and offer everyone access to a negotiated ‘group rate’ for GVF installer certification courses. Intelsat’s goal is to have 1,200 global technicians and engineers trained by 2011.

“Intelsat has demonstrated its industry leadership by promoting skills building amongst the communications community,” said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of the Global VSAT Forum. “GVF calls upon all operators, as well as manufacturers and other solution providers to empower the communications community by fostering local expertise… even in the poorest nations of the world.” 

“As a leader in the satellite industry, Intelsat understands the importance of establishing an interference-free environment. This includes a user community that has the technical knowledge to responsibly access our global network and not create unintended interference for other users,” Intelsat Chief Technical Officer Thierry Guillemin said. “We look forward to continue supporting our customers by facilitating relevant and affordable training for several years. All satellite users are encouraged to ensure that their field technicians and engineers have appropriate skills.”

Intelsat is not only endorsing the program, but is also providing material support to enable expanded access to the GVF courses. Likewise, GVF is providing a 50 percent discount on training for technicians who work for organizations based in developing countries. The discounted rate is part of the Andrew Werth-GVF Scholarship Program.

The GVF VSAT Installation and Maintenance Training Course was created by the global industry to serve as the standard for training technicians to effectively install satellite communications networks. The applications being enabled via satellite networks include everything from disaster preparedness, public security, and e-governance to banking, Internet service provision, and broadband access for small-to-medium enterprises and individual households.

GVF's award-winning VSAT Installation Certification training program is delivered via a combination of online, interactive, simulator-driven training modules developed by SatProf, Inc. (www.satprof.com) and formal hands-on skills testing, all managed through the GVF training portal at . Hands-on skills testing and supplementary classroom sessions are supported by GVF Instructors and Regional Training Centres located in every major region of the world.

The training program has recently been upgraded to specifically reinforce core skills that field technicians need in order to prevent accidental uplink interference. Upon completion of the new GVF510 online course – which includes intensive instruction and practice using 3-D simulators – and demonstration of their hands on skills, technicians will receive the new GVF Basic VSAT Installer Certification which establishes a baseline level of competence in VSAT activation. 

Students are encouraged to continue with additional online training to complete the GVF Advanced VSAT Installer Certification, which entitles them to be listed in GVF's public online database of certified technicians. The database, which is used by communications service providers seeking qualified technical support, provides another measure of sustainability for the Certified trainees and, thus, for the communications community at large.