Secure Satellite Communication for Remote Monitoring and Inspection Support

In 2005, the Department of Safeguards initiated cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) to assess the potential use of secure satellite communications. It was agreed that the cooperation would cover not only the medium and long-term needs of the Department of Safeguards, but also the requirements of the international Emergency Centre managed by the Department of Nuclear Safety. As a result of the ESA-IAEA cooperation, the Department of Safeguards decided in 2006 to continue its feasibility study of satellite transmission in four Member States. In early 2007, the Department of Safeguards, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), installed and tested a point-to-point secure communication system, which includes a satellite link, between Daejeon, South Korea and IAEA HQs in Vienna, Austria. The communication system design layout was developed to support the potential need of the Agency to establish a secure mean of communications in locations where access to traditional means of communication (phone lines, internet, wireless) remain costly, unreliable or nonexistent. During the period 17-26 January 2007, a field test consisting of a series of operational tests, was conducted in order to exercise and demonstrate both the capability and technical limits of the point-to-point communication link to support secure, simultaneous voice, video and data file transfers from fixed and mobiles stations in the field to Vienna Headquarters (HQ), and from a fixed station in the field to a mobile station. This paper presents the basic elements of the secure communication system design, including a technical summary with supporting data, and details the performance of the point-to-point communication equipment in relation to desired or expected results. The paper also includes a description of the test plan and the practical experience gained, and provides recommendations regarding the continued assessment of the secure satellite communication equipment to support remote monitoring and inspection activities in the future.