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Fostering satellite communication at RMIT
RMIT University students and researchers will have access to cutting-edge satellite
communications technology thanks to the support of a world leader in networking
solutions, ITC Global.
The company has provided the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering with
an industry standard two-way earth terminal, making RMIT the only Australian
university to receive full access to its global communications network via a number of
geosynchronous satellites.
Associate Professor James Scott, Discipline Head of Communication Engineering at
RMIT, said the company’s generous sponsorship would enable students to gain a
practical understanding of the challenges involved in operating live satellite links.
“Our students will be learning the skills they will need for their careers by working on
the latest generation of systems that are used in the industry,” he said.
“We can now conduct teaching and research experiments that involve actual uplinking
to working satellites.
“ITC Global’s support will not only enhance RMIT’s research capabilities in satellite
communications but will also enable our graduates to hit the ground running when
they head into the workforce.”
Associate Professor Scott said discussions had already begun with ITC Global on
possible joint research and development projects, and the University looked forward
to mutually beneficial technical collaborations with the company into the future.
Chris Hill, Manager of ITC Global’s Australian Operations and an alumnus of RMIT’s
Master of Telecommunication Engineering program, said the quality of the University’s
programs deserved strong industry support.
“We are very keen to cultivate strength in satellite communications education and
research in Australia, and RMIT is one of the few universities in the country that works
to develop highly-skilled graduates in this area,” Mr Hill said.
“The system RMIT students and researchers will work with is the same that our clients
use in Australia and around the world, so the skill sets they develop will be directly
transferable into the workplace.”
In honour of the company’s generous support, RMIT’s communications laboratory has
been renamed the ITC Global Satellite Communications Laboratory.
For interviews: RMIT University Discipline Head of Communication Engineering,
Associate Professor James Scott, (03) 9925 3248 or james.scott@rmit.edu.au
ITC Global, Manager, Australian Operations, Chris Hill, (08) 6263 0444 or
chris.hill@itcglobal.net.au
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Media and Communications,
Gosia Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
23 March, 2009
NEWS 
