Skybrokers converted two ASC Signal 4.9m Satellite Antennas at the East coast of Greenland for Tusass
Skybrokers converted two ASC Signal 4.9m Satellite Antennas at the East coast of Greenland for Tusass
In August 2023, Skybrokers successfully converted two ASC Signal 4.9m Earth Station Antennas, operated by Tusass (formerly TELE Greenland), from C-band to Ku-band to enable communication with the HispaSat Amazonas Nexus satellite. The antennas are operating from remote and hard-to-reach communities in Tasiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit, located on the East-coast of Greenland. Following rigorous testing, the antennas were put back into operation, providing more affordable internet connections for local homes.
Traveling to these remote villages proved to be a complex journey making 14 stops across Iceland and Greenland involving airplanes, helicopters and multiple transfers and two return flights to Iceland. An extraordinary trip with breathtaking views of isolated mountain regions, remote settlements, icebergs and world’s largest fjord system, Kangertittivaq.
Please read press release in Satnews, Remote Greenland villages are connected with the world.
Tusass is a Greenlandic postal and telecommunications company dating back to 1879. It is the largest telecom company in Greenland and is headquartered in Nuuk. The company manages the top-level domain for Greenland .gl, and owns the sea cable Greenland Connect, a 2-pair 128*10 Gbit/s submarine fiber cable connecting Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Formerly known as TELE Greenland, the company was rebranded in 2021 as Tusass, Greenlandic slang for “talk to you later”.
The company provides internet connections to towns and remote settlements using three different technologies: underwater sea cable, radio chains and via satellite. To improve internet connectivity in the country, Tusass signed in 2021 an agreement with satellite operator HispaSat from Spain for a dedicated payload of 800MHz on the Amazonas Nexus satellite. The payload is designed to provide dedicated coverage to Greenland. The satellite was launched on February 5th, 2023 on a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX, and the payload for Greenland will be known as Greensat.
-
- Ittoqqortoormiitt, a remote settlement at the East-coast of Greenland.
-
- The ASC Signal 4.9m antenna is protected by a radome.
-
- Tasiilaq, a hard-to-reach village at the Greenland East-coast.
-
- Also this antenna is protected against the devastating Piteraq storms.
-
- Traveling between Iceland and Greenland.
-
- Trip started in Akureyri, Northern Iceland.
-
- Norlandair took us to Greenland.
-
- Remote airstrip Nerlerit Inaat (Constable Point – CNP) in Greenland.
-
- For further travels you need to take a helicopter.
-
- Helicopter from Air Greenland took us to Ittoqqortoormiitt.
-
- We are crossing the world’s largest Fjord System.
-
- After 15min. the team reached the settlement.
-
- Landing on the Heli-pad.
-
- Welcome in Ittoqqortoormiitt.
-
- Breathtaking views with icebergs in the harbor area.
-
- Icebergs touching the beach.
-
- Typical Greenlandic colorful houses.
-
- The radome will be our ‘office’ for two weeks.
-
- The C-band RF equipment is being removed.
-
- HPa’s and diplexer network is removed.
-
- We need to replace the C-band parts for Ku-band.
-
- All C-band parts were removed.
-
- The antenna is moved to zenith.
-
- The feed tube is replaced for Ku-band.
-
- Antenna is now converted to Ku-band.
-
- Sub alignment and fine tuning was required.
-
- Ku-band HPA’s, waveguides and Diplexer/OMT were installed.
-
- Testing with satellite operator Hispasat.
-
- Running patterns.
-
- After two weeks the antenna was ready.
-
- Time to go to the next village.
-
- Helicopter brought us back to this remote airstrip.
-
- Following a short 1.5hr flight to Northern Iceland.
-
- A one-day sightseeing trip in Iceland, here the Gullfoss Waterfalls.
-
- The famous Geysir.
-
- Icelandair took us back to Greenland.
-
- Landing on Kulusuk airport..
-
- ..for a heli trip to Tasiilaq.
-
- Awesome views on isolated mountain areas.
-
- We are reaching Tasiilaq after a 8min flight.
-
- Welcome to Tasiilaq.
-
- Tasiilaq aerial with radome in front.
-
- Typical street view in Tasiilaq.
-
- We will perform the same conversion on this antenna.
-
- The radome can be entered by a door.
-
- Conversion from C- to Ku-band.
-
- Feed will be replaced for Ku.
-
- All the RF will be replaced for Ku.
-
- C-band diplexer parts were removed, HPA’s to follow.
-
- Fiber cabling is installed and labeled.
-
- Modems are tested.
-
- In one week the antenna was converted and tested.
-
- The helicopter return flight to Kulusuk..
-
- ..and Icelandair took us back home.
