NTN in the Lab: Reproducing Real World Satellite Impairments with Channel Emulators
Modern satellite communication systems operate in highly dynamic and non-ideal propagation environments, where performance is strongly impacted by a combination of deterministic and stochastic impairments. These include atmospheric attenuation (rain fade, gaseous absorption), Doppler shifts due to platform mobility, phase noise, group delay distortion, non-linearities from high-power amplifiers, and multipath effects in certain scenarios (e.g., maritime or urban reflections for LEO systems).
This talk presents how advanced RF channel emulators can be used to accurately reproduce these real-world satellite impairments in a controlled laboratory environment. The objective is to enable repeatable, scalable, and high-fidelity testing of satellite links, terminals, and subsystems without relying on costly and time-constrained over-the-air experiments. The presentation will cover: Physical-layer impairment modeling, Implementation in channel emulators, Test and validation workflows, and Use cases, including validation of adaptive coding and modulation (ACM), beam tracking algorithms, and interference resilience in next-generation satellite systems (e.g., HTS and non-terrestrial networks for 5G/6G). Particular attention will be given to the challenges associated with wideband and high-frequency systems (Ka-/Q-/V-band), where impairments are more pronounced and system margins are tighter.
By bridging the gap between theoretical channel models and practical system validation, channel emulation emerges as a critical tool for accelerating the development and certification of robust satellite communication technologies.
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- 800 Rue De la Gauchetière Ouest
- Montréal, Quebec
- Canada H5A 1K8
- Building: 6900
- Room Number: 6900
- Contact Event Hosts
- Co-sponsored by INRS/Staracom
- Starts 24 April 2026 04:00 AM UTC
- Ends 29 April 2026 04:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Maury Microwave
Zacharia Ouardirhi, PhD, Senior V-P Customer Engagement, Maury Microwave
Biography:
Zacharia Ouardirhi received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal in 2005, specializing in Antenna Design and Characterization. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Customer Engagement at Maury Microwave, a global leader in RF and microwave test and measurement solutions.
With over two decades of experience in high-frequency device characterization and measurement science, Zacharia brings deep technical insight into the evolving challenges of satellite communications, including performance validation, and high-frequency system integration.
Recognized for his expertise and collaborative leadership, he actively contributes to major academic and industry forums, working closely with professors, researchers, and industry stakeholders across Canada and internationally. His work bridges innovation, measurement science, and real-world system implementation.
Address:Quebec, Canada
Agenda
10 h-12 h : Talk & Discussion
12h: Pizza