INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SUCCESSOR SYSTEM ISCS The International

INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SUCCESSOR SYSTEM (ISCS)

The International Satellite Communications System (ISCS) GENERAL DESCRIPTION & PURPOSE The ISCS is composed of two systems for data delivery via satellite communications. The first system is the World Area Forecast System (WAFS) in support of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) program for aviation data distribution. The WAFS broadcast makes globally available to aviation users the centrally produced aviation model forecast products of a World Area Forecast Center (WAFC) in global gridded binary form (WMO GRIB code), Alpha-numeric text, facsimile graphics ( T 4 -FAX format), and satellite imagery (GIF format) data types. T 4 FAX will be replaced by binary graphics (BUFR) data format in 2004. The second part of the ISCS is the Region IV Meteorological Telecommunications Network (RMTN) satellite system which replaced the two WMO Region IV GTS regional communication networks of the Antilles Meteorological (ANMET) and Central America Meteorological (CEMET). The RMTN supports WMO GRIB, alpha-numeric text, and T 4 -FAX data types. T 4 FAX will be replaced by binary graphics (BUFR) data format in 2004.

The International Satellite Communications System (ISCS) ØThe United States will continue to support ICAO/WMO requirements (as a servicing World Area Forecast Center - WAFC) with the ISCS. ØThe global coverage will continue to span approximately from 105 degrees east longitude to 65 degrees east longitude (covering the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean). ØThe remainder of the world coverage will continue to be supported by the WAFC located in the United Kingdom through their satellite broadcast system called SADIS (which primarily covers the European, Asian, and African continents as well as the Indian Ocean).

ATLANTIC OCEAN REGION (AOR) ØThe AOR portion of the successor ISCS will be centered around the World. Com shared Master Satellite Hub, in Andover, Maine. ØThe Master Satellite Hub will be linked via a 64 Kbps terrestrial (redundant) circuit to the National Weather Service Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG) in Silver Spring, Maryland. ØThe NWSTG will continue to serve as the central point of data entry into the ISCS. ØAll ISCS data originating at the NWSTG will be transmitted, using TCP/IP network protocol, over to the World. Com Andover facility for broadcast to all ISCS AOR sites.

ISCS AOR Satellite Broadcast

PACIFIC OCEAN REGION (POR) ØThe POR portion of ISCS will be centered around the World. Com shared Master Satellite Hub in Yacolt, Washington. ØThe Yacolt Master Satellite Hub will be linked via a 64 Kbps terrestrial (redundant) circuit to the World. Com shared Master Satellite Hub in Andover, Maine. ØAll ISCS WAFS data originating at the NWSTG will transmitted, using TCP/IP network protocol, to the Yacolt facility (via the Andover facility) for broadcast to all POR sites.

ISCS WAFS – Pacific Ocean Region

REGION IV METEOROLOGICAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (RMTN) ØThe RMTN portion of the successor ISCS will be centered around the World. Com shared Master Satellite Hub, in Andover, Maine. ØThe Master Satellite Hub will be linked via a 64 Kbps terrestrial (redundant) circuit to the National Weather Service Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG) in Silver Spring, Maryland. ØAll ISCS data originating at the NWSTG will be transmitted, using TCP/IP network protocol, to the World. Com Andover facility for broadcast to all ISCS RMTN sites. ØAll RMTN sites will uplink their data at 2. 4 Kbps, using TCP/IP network protocol, to the NWSTG (via the World. Com Andover facility) for inclusion as part of the collective that is broadcast to all ISCS RMTN sites.

ISCS BACKUP Ø In the event of a total or catastrophic failure of the NWSTG, additional protection for the broadcast of WAFS data will be incorporated into the successor ISCS network. Ø Facilities will be established for the United Kingdom WAFC, and the NWS Aviation Weather Center, to directly dial up to the Andover Earth Station facility to broadcast critical data to the ISCS member nations.

INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SUCCESSOR SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT Web page for ISCS www. nws. noaa. gov/iscs

ISCS DEPLOYMENT GOALS q Replace X. 25 network protocol with TCP/IP network protocol q All site owned VSAT equipment remains the same q Additional Interface equipment will be added to registered sites q Phased transition from existing network to successor network with minimum site downtime q Dual operation of current / successor networks to reduce impact to users q Extend system life with a technology refresh program to incorporate technology advancements for enhanced performance capabilities, as appropriate

ISCS DEPLOYMENT TIME LINE v. Contract Award: December 2002 v. Transition to new system: December 2002 – August 2003 v. Dual operations period: August 2003 – January 2004 v. End of Legacy contract: September 2003