LP Technologies Reports Record Year for Spectrum Analyzer Hardware and Software

WICHITA, KS, Oct. 3, 2018 -- LP Technologies, a leader in high performance and lower cost spectrum analyzer hardware and software technology, has earned a larger number of larger contracts during 2018. The current unit volume shipping rate is far beyond expectations and with three months remaining, calendar 2018 should end up exceeding plans by double, the company said.

LP Technologies said it earned a substantial unforeseen order from two of the three largest telecommunications companies in the world, as well as orders from two of the top three US government contractors and two of the largest in-flight broadband internet services where the satellite communications market in general, and for spectrum analyzer hardware and software in particular, is expanding. This expansion is expected to continue for the next ten or more years. Most satellite industry manufacturers are experiencing continued growth – from launch vehicles to antennas.

Worldwide teleports (satellite operators) are also feeling growth pains. As more satellites are deployed in space, the opportunities for signal interference rises. More satellites, more signals, more chances for signal conflict across the radio frequency (RF) spectrum. Spectrum analyzers provide the tools required to monitor satellite signals to ensure that signals operate inside their licensed bandwidth only. Interference occurs when RF signals encroach on a licensed signal frequency. Interference could disrupt your streaming movie, internet data service or jeopardize 911 communications. No one enjoys those consequences.

While there are many steps being taken to minimize signal interference, it has happened all along and could only grow in severity. That’s one of the reasons that large satellite operators, like teleports, are trying to stay on top of this growth in signal count, satellites and customers. In fact, the Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) is an organization dedicated to control the threat to always-on wireless service delivered by an increasing number of satellites.

The World Teleport Association stated, "Established businesses (Teleports) face disruption from new models of connectivity High Throughput Satellite (HTS), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO), by the rising domination of software over hardware, and customer demands for seamless global service." This refers to communications covering the virtually the entire populated globe as well as oceans.

Hardware is also seeing a boost in shipping units from replacements to original equipment, purchased at the start of the satellite boom. This equipment is now 15 to 20 years old and has served the industry well. As the industry evolves, new capability and features are demanded and new hardware, with new features, are required to satisfy customer demands. The LPT-3000RX4 hardware spectrum analyzer, introduced recently, is changing the way spectrum analyzers are viewed and used around the world. Industry growth, new technology in satellite communications and the teleports’ desire to offer state-of-the-art service to its customers, are all factors fueling hardware replacements. Even though the old hardware still performs, the features and capabilities are just not competitive.

While hardware orders are up, orders for spectrum analyzer software have taken off as well. Upgrades to LPT-LSM  2.4.4.1 software from LP Technologies SMART  application are another source of order volume. While SMART continues to perform, the feature set is dated and support is no longer available. Users have seized the opportunity to move to the LSM application, taking advantage of upgrade incentives. Updates by our own in-house software developers allows us to react quickly to new industry demands keeping our customers ahead of the growing industry. Input from customers also allows us to introduce new capability to our own software, for the benefit of all customers.

LPT-ASM  is a flagship software product that automates much of the spectrum analyzation process. And while the process can be quite complex, automation assists users in reacting to situations where manual intervention is required – freeing up many hours a week. Automation then is reducing the workload on personnel and ultimately saving the operating budget. Surprisingly, the same number of employees can monitor more satellite signals. So as the number of monitored signals increase with the forecasted industry growth, the number of personnel does not.

Fully trained personnel and ongoing customer support also ensure that satcom employees are always ready for challenges. These capabilities, allowing remote users to login from anywhere in the world, Markers, Min/Max display and recorded history, have changed the way the industry uses and deploys spectrum analyzer assets – people and hardware/software. Geographically distributed personnel and assets is common and providing selective system access to employees is a means of getting the right data in front of the right people.

Demand from the most recent industry trade show, IBC  Show yearly in Amsterdam in mid September of this year, was also up. Micky Mukalay, VP Business Development, LP Technologies, was there and observed first hand that emerging satellite markets are experiencing a growth spurt. More than 57,000 show attendees and 1,700 exhibitors also reflect that demand.

Demand is very strong as these markets ramp up to supply their customers with communications service. Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (often referred to collectively as AMEA) are some examples where this growth is occurring. Over the last 20 years, LP Technologies has delivered hardware and software spectrum analyzers to 15 of the top 20 teleports in the world, as ranked by World Teleport Association.

LP Technologies has supplied all branches of the US military, as part of a long term plan, to include very specific product features.  However our spectrum analyzer products are also deployed by international peacekeeping agencies such as the United Nations. This broad application of spectrum analyzer technology supports the notion that satellite usage is deeply intertwined with our lives.

LP Technologies has more than two decades of spectrum analyzer market experience, creating both hardware and software. Customers worldwide including satellite teleports, Network Operating Centers (NOC), Verizon, SpaceX, Gee, and Gogo rely on LP Technologies for carrier monitoring and interference detection products.

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