Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Satellite Communications

This professional diploma gives you a complete understanding of satellite communication systems, from orbital physics to day-to-day operation. You will learn how satellites and ground stations are built, how to calculate a link budget, which modulation, coding and multiple access techniques to use, how LEO megaconstellations and 5G non-terrestrial networks are changing connectivity, how spectrum is regulated and protected, and how satellite links serve ships, aircraft and remote assets, so you can design and run effective solutions.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Satellite Communications?

This professional diploma prepares you to design, implement, operate and troubleshoot satellite communication systems for maritime and other demanding environments. You will study Kepler's laws and orbital mechanics, GEO, MEO, LEO and HEO orbits, coverage geometry, propagation and frequency bands; the satellite bus and payload, transponders, high-throughput satellites and laser inter-satellite links; teleports, gateways, VSAT terminals, tracking systems and RF chains; digital modulation, forward error correction, link budget, interference and adaptive coding; multiple access, network topologies, DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS2, TCP acceleration and SD-WAN; LEO megaconstellations, flat-panel antennas, 5G NTN and direct-to-device services; and cyber security, ITU regulation and sector applications.

What sets this professional diploma apart: an end-to-end approach that covers the space segment, the ground segment and the network on top of them; detailed, hands-on link budget work supported by simulation tools; up-to-date coverage of LEO megaconstellations, phased array antennas and 5G/6G non-terrestrial networks; a clear focus on maritime use, from marine VSAT and GMDSS integration to crew connectivity, alongside aeronautical, IoT and emergency applications; a solid grounding in spectrum regulation, interference management and the cyber security of command links; and an integrating project in which you design a multi-orbit satellite communication system.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Orbital fundamentals: Kepler's laws, GEO, MEO, LEO and HEO orbits, coverage and frequency bands.
  • Space and ground segments: transponders, HTS, inter-satellite links, teleports, VSAT and RF chains.
  • Link engineering: modulation, FEC, EIRP, G/T, C/N, interference and adaptive coding and modulation.
  • Satellite networks: FDMA, TDMA, MF-TDMA, DVB-S2/RCS2, QoS, TCP acceleration and SD-WAN.
  • New generation: LEO megaconstellations, phased array antennas, 5G NTN and direct-to-device services.
  • Integrating project: link budget, network architecture and operating plan for a multi-orbit system.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Satellite Communications

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of orbital physics and satellite systems

  • 1.1. History and evolution of satellite communications: from Sputnik to LEO megaconstellations
  • 1.2. Kepler's laws, orbital mechanics and two-line element sets (TLE)
  • 1.3. Classification of orbits: GEO (geostationary), MEO (medium Earth orbit), LEO (low Earth orbit) and HEO (highly elliptical orbit)
  • 1.4. Satellite coverage geometry: footprint, elevation angle, azimuth and slant range
  • 1.5. Free-space wave propagation, atmospheric effects, rain attenuation and scintillation
  • 1.6. Satellite frequency bands: L, C, X, Ku, Ka and Q/V bands and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) allocations
  • 1.7. Atmospheric drag, satellite lifetime, station-keeping maneuvers and space debris
  • 1.8. Kepler's laws and orbits
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

The space segment and satellite architecture

  • 2.1. Structure and subsystems of the spacecraft: platform (bus) versus payload
  • 2.2. The electrical power subsystem (EPS): solar panels, batteries and power distribution
  • 2.3. Attitude and orbit control (AOCS): gyroscopes, reaction wheels and Hall-effect or plasma thrusters
  • 2.4. Satellite transponders: transparent (bent-pipe) versus regenerative payload architectures
  • 2.5. Satellite antennas: parabolic reflectors, multiple feeds and shaped beams
  • 2.6. High-throughput satellite (HTS) technology and spot beams with frequency reuse
  • 2.7. Inter-satellite links (ISL): laser optical communications in space and orbital routing
  • 2.8. Payloads and transponders
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

The ground segment and earth stations

  • 3.1. Architecture of an earth station: teleports, gateways and end-user terminals (VSAT)
  • 3.2. Ground antennas: Cassegrain, Gregorian and offset parabolic geometry and phased arrays
  • 3.3. Satellite tracking systems in earth stations: step-track, auto-track and program tracking
  • 3.4. Downlink radio frequency (RF) chains: low-noise amplifiers and block downconverters (LNA, LNB and BDC)
  • 3.5. Uplink RF chains: block upconverters (BUC) and high-power amplifiers (HPA: TWT versus SSPA)
  • 3.6. Telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) stations and mission control centers (MCC)
  • 3.7. Communications-on-the-move (COTM) and communications-on-the-pause (COTP) terminals for maritime, airborne and land use
  • 3.8. Earth station antennas
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Modulation, coding and radio frequency links (link budget)

  • 4.1. Advanced digital modulation for satellite: QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK and DVB-S2X
  • 4.2. Forward error correction (FEC) coding techniques: LDPC, turbo codes and Reed-Solomon
  • 4.3. Detailed link budget calculation: EIRP, free-space loss (FSL) and G/T ratio
  • 4.4. Evaluating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) and bit error rate (BER)
  • 4.5. Adjacent satellite interference (ASI), cross-polarization and non-linear distortion in amplifiers
  • 4.6. Adaptive fade mitigation techniques: adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) and uplink power control (UPC)
  • 4.7. Simulating satellite communication links with specialist software tools
  • 4.8. Link budget calculation
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Multiple access, network protocols and satellite topologies

  • 5.1. Multiple access schemes: FDMA, TDMA, CDMA and demand-assigned MF-TDMA
  • 5.2. Satellite network topologies: point-to-point (SCPC), star (hub-and-spoke) and mesh
  • 5.3. Broadcast and interactive satellite communication standards: DVB-S2, DVB-RCS2 and DVB-NIP
  • 5.4. Mitigating satellite latency: TCP/IP acceleration, WAN optimizers and TCP spoofing
  • 5.5. Routing and switching protocols in hybrid satellite networks: BGP, MPLS and satellite SD-WAN
  • 5.6. Quality of service (QoS), dynamic bandwidth management (DAMA) and priority traffic allocation
  • 5.7. Software-defined satellite networks (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV) in teleports
  • 5.8. TDMA, FDMA and CDMA techniques
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

LEO megaconstellations and next-generation technologies

  • 6.1. The NewSpace revolution: Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper and Telesat Lightspeed
  • 6.2. Technical challenges of LEO constellations: handover between satellites and dynamic tracking
  • 6.3. Electronically steered flat-panel antennas (phased arrays) based on metasurfaces and beamforming chips
  • 6.4. Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) in the 3GPP 5G/6G standard (Release 17 onwards)
  • 6.5. Direct-to-device satellite communications (direct-to-cell)
  • 6.6. Integrating LEO, MEO and GEO constellations in multi-orbit, multi-band hybrid networks
  • 6.7. Business models, financial sustainability and spectrum regulation for megaconstellations
  • 6.8. The Starlink and OneWeb constellations
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Cyber security, regulation and sector applications

  • 7.1. Cyber security in satellite networks: encryption of command links (TT&C), user data encryption (AES-256) and anti-jamming
  • 7.2. International regulatory framework: the ITU, the Radio Regulations and coordination of frequencies and orbital positions
  • 7.3. Satellite communications in the maritime sector: marine VSAT, GMDSS integration, rescue and crew connectivity
  • 7.4. Aeronautical applications: in-flight connectivity for passengers (IFEC), aircraft tracking and ATS/CPDLC communications
  • 7.5. Emergency communication networks, natural disaster response and national security and defense
  • 7.6. Satellite Internet of Things (Sat-IoT): low-power connectivity for remote assets, agriculture and global logistics
  • 7.7. Earth observation services, remote sensing and integration with satellite data networks
  • 7.8. ITU spectrum regulation
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Project engineering, operations and integrating project

  • 8.1. Methodology for designing, sizing and implementing a private satellite communication system
  • 8.2. Type-approval testing, VSAT antenna alignment and measurement of RF parameters with a spectrum analyzer
  • 8.3. Operation, monitoring and preventive maintenance of earth stations and teleports
  • 8.4. Technical and financial feasibility analysis (CAPEX, OPEX and cost per MHz or Mbps) in satellite projects
  • 8.5. Interference management and spectrum coordination with national and international regulators
  • 8.6. Contingency protocols, service continuity and disaster recovery plans (DRP) for teleports
  • 8.7. Presentation of the integrating project
  • 8.8. Integrating project: conceptual design, link budget calculation, network architecture selection and operating plan for a multi-orbit satellite communication system
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Satellite Communications

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Satellite Communications

01Design and optimize satellite communication networks by selecting and configuring antennas, modems and amplifiers for bandwidth, power and modulation.
02Implement and manage satellite earth stations, keeping antennas, transceivers and signal processing equipment in continuous, efficient operation.
03Diagnose and resolve problems in satellite systems by analyzing signals with specialist tools and restoring service quickly.
04Evaluate and select emerging satellite technologies according to cost-benefit, maturity, scalability and interoperability.
05Lead satellite communication projects by defining the strategy and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
06Manage the satellite radio spectrum, using assigned frequency bands efficiently and minimizing interference.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Satellite Communications

01Satellite telecommunications engineerdesign, implementation and maintenance of satellite systems.
02Earth station technicianoperation and maintenance of equipment in satellite ground stations and teleports.
03Satellite network specialistdesign and management of communication networks that use satellites.
04Communications officer on board ships or aircraftoperation and maintenance of satellite communication equipment.
05Satellite communications consultant or project managertechnical and strategic advice and delivery of satellite projects.
06Satellite applications developer or researchersoftware, services and new technologies based on satellite data and links.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Satellite Communications

The full satellite communication chain: orbits and propagation, the space and ground segments, modulation and link budget, satellite networks, LEO constellations, regulation, cyber security and sector applications.

Yes. It covers marine VSAT, communications-on-the-move terminals, GMDSS integration, rescue communications and crew connectivity, alongside aeronautical, IoT and emergency uses.

Yes. A full module covers EIRP, free-space loss, G/T, C/N, BER, interference and adaptive coding and modulation, with practice using simulation tools.

Yes. It studies LEO megaconstellations, handover and tracking, flat-panel phased array antennas, 5G/6G non-terrestrial networks and direct-to-device services.

No. Navalis teaches satellite communications; radio operator certificates are issued by the competent maritime authority after its own training and examinations.

You design a multi-orbit satellite communication system: conceptual design, link budget, network architecture and operating plan.

Fully online, with modular content available 24/7, discussion forums, live sessions that are recorded and personalized tutorials.

The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each and ends with an integrating project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

Related programs

More programs in Machinery and electrics

View the whole area →

Professional diploma · 800 hProfessional Diploma in Outboard Engines$1,540 · View program →Professional diploma · 800 hProfessional Diploma in Marine Workshop Tools and Techniques$2,960 · View program →Professional diploma · 800 hProfessional Diploma in Marine Electrical Systems$1,160 · View program →
Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at telecommunications engineers and technicians, professionals in the maritime, aviation and mining industries who need reliable connectivity in remote areas, cyber security specialists, technology consultants and project managers, and STEM graduates interested in the space and telecommunications industry. A higher technical qualification or degree in telecommunications, electronic engineering or a related field, or proven experience in telecommunications, is recommended, together with basic knowledge of networks and communication systems and, ideally, of radio frequency and modulation.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a high-speed internet connection, an up-to-date browser, software to view documents such as PDF files, and headphones with a microphone.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $340 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

Any questions?

Ask us before you enroll

Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

Enroll now

Consent
Scroll to Top