1. INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION
ACP WG-F/11 – WP/25
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION
ELEVENTH INFORMAL MEETING ON THE AERONAUTICAL COMMUNICATION PANEL WORKING GROUP F
(ACP WG-F/11)
(Nairobi, – 27 February 2004)
AGENDA ITEM 9: Review of agenda for WRC07;
development of the draft ICAO position
Resolution 415(WRC –03)
AFISNET:An instrument of Intra/Inter Regional Co-operation supporting Air Navigation services
(Presented by ASECNA)

2. I- SUMMARY
The present Working Paper is a contribution as an existing solution to the resolution 415; it is a cooperative approach, which has permitted to set up in AFI Region an appropriate communication infrastructure that meets the evolving requirements of modern civil aviation.
From the beginning, AFISNET(African and Indian Ocean Satellite Network) has been designed as an instrument for regional integration, to provide digital and modern aeronautical satellite communications.
It also permitted to eliminate the shortcomings and deficiencies in terms of ATS services implementation.
In so doing, it contributes to improve the air navigation safety in AFI Region.

3. II- BACKGROUND
For the reliability of the Aeronautical Fixed and Mobile services in the ACCRA, BRAZZAVILLE, KANO, N’DJAMENA and NIAMEY FIR, a satellite telecommunications network for Central and West Africa named initially AEROSATEL and now AFISNET was Initiated by ICAO and Funded by the European Economic Community (EEC).

4. It was Implemented by ALCATEL from 1992 to 1995.
AEROSATEL comprised a total of fifteen earth stations. In KANO and LAGOS two INTELSAT standard B
earth stations (Antenna of 11m) and thirteen INTELSAT
standard F2 earth stations (antenna of 7.30m) in ACCRA,
ABUJA, BANGUI, BRAZZAVILLE,DOUALA, ILORIN, JOS,
LIBREVILLE, MAIDIGURI, NDJAMENA,NIAMEY,
PORT HARCOURT and SOKOTO.
A representation of the network is shown in Figure 1

5. FIGURE 1: AEROSATEL

6. INTRA-REGIONAL CO-OPERATION:
III- AN INSTRUMENT OF INTRA/INTER REGIONALCO-OPERATION SUPPORTING AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES:  
 INTRA-REGIONAL CO-OPERATION:
Within the framework of the project, a Satellite Network Management Committee (SNMC) was set up, involving:
GCAA for GHANA, NAMA for NIGERIA, ASECNA, ROBERTS FIR, ICAO and European Union
The suppliers of equipment: (ALCATEL, ALENIA and CORIS), participating in the Committee as Observer

7. An Engineer from IAL(English design Office) named by the European Union ensured the co-ordination.
The objectives of the management Committee are :
the network extension on free participation basis
the interoperability (integration) with other African
networks
the periodic review of the technical and operational
performance of the network
the co-operation in various areas, between the
responsible for the concerned centres in terms of
exchange of technicians, experience sharing,
mutual assistance in case of earth station system
failure.

8. This co-operation allowed a transfer of technology and an undeniable know-how to the members participating in the network life.
In so doing, The members gained significant experience and expertise in respect of the implementation, installation, exploitation and maintenance of ground station systems, supporting aeronautical telecommunications.
Due to the non-renewable by the European Union of the technical assistance contract; the current members decided for :
Meeting Co-ordination :
the hosting administration should act as the co-ordinator
with assistance from ICAO ;
Frequency Of Meetings :
the SNMC meeting shall be held once a year on a rotation basis

9. Considering APIRG/10 guideline and in accordance with AFI/7recommendation 9/2, it was noted a remarkable extension of the basic network in:
all ASECNA area(including Madagascar)
ROBERTS FIR
MAURITIUS,
REUNION and MAYOTTE
the COMOROS
SOUTH AFRICA
FRANCE
AFISNET comprises today fifty four earth stations(of which , thirty nine(39) belong to ASECNA)distributed in twenty-two States, as indicated in figures 2 and 3.
Negotiations in progress will expand the network in Angola, Algeria and Sao Tome &Principe.

10. AFISNET MAP
FIGURE 2

11. FIGURE 3

12. INTER-REGIONAL CO-OPERATION
According to APIRG/13 Conclusion 13/14, the interconnection between AFISNET and SADC network is implemented(figure 4).
Other interoperability projects in progress, notably with MEDSAT network (figure 5), will permit to extend AFISNET in the Mediterranean
It should also be noted the realization of a gateway between AFISNET and CAFSAT network (Figure 6)

13. AFISNET/SADC NETWORK INTERCONNECTION
FIGURE 4:
AFISNET/SADC NETWORK INTERCONNECTION

14. FIGURE 5 13

15. GATEWAY AFISNET/CAFSAT NETWORK AFTN INTEROPERABILITY
FIGURE 6

16. Consolidation of ATS services on a single satellite:
According to APIRG/13 Conclusion 13/11; all the AFI VSAT
networks will migrate to the same INTELSAT satellite
IS East.
In the short terms, using of the single transponder , will create a seamless network .
Anyway, the target is the full interoperability of all the existing AFI VSAT networks(AFISNET, SADC, CAFSAT) and those in progress(NAFISAT and MIDVSAT), by using the same satellite access , the same operating mode and the plug to plug compatible protocols.
In so doing, it will permit, notably:
a smooth implementation of the ATN in AFI Region and above all, the implementation of air/ground link by a cooperative and proactive approach. ASECNA will propose possible solutions, for review.

17. the portability of applications and in particular the
implementation of the links to Hönefoss(ESTB centre in
Norway) for the extension of the Test Bed EGNOS trials in
Zone B and C .
It should be noted that ASECNA for the purpose of the Test Bed EGNOS trials in its area of competence(zone A), has successfully implemented the link to Hönefoss(ESTB in Norway) using AFISNET, as illustrated in figure 7.
The ICAO regional meeting dealing with the review of migration issues with INTELSAT, will be held
in Johannesburg(31 March- 01 April 2004).

18. FIGURE 7

19. AFISNET:INSTRUMENTSUPPORTING AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES
Support for the ATS services implementation, AFISNET allowed to eliminate most of the shortcomings and deficiencies as regards communications, which prevailed in AFI Region
AERONAUTICAL FIXED SERVICE
According to AFI/7 Recommendations 9/2, 9/8, 14/20,
APIRG/12 Conclusions 12/12, 12/13, 12/15 and
APIRG/13 Conclusion 13/17; the services implemented are summarized below.
AFTN circuits
GTS circuits
ATS/DS circuits
Maintenance phone: 100 circuits

20. AERONAUTICAL MOBILE SERVICE
An important programme of the extension of VHF
coverage is carried out within the concerned FIR as indicated in table 2.
The details of this important VHF programme in ASECNA area , are given in table 3.
It should be noted that, other remote VHF stations will be operational before end of 2004, in particular the remote VHF station in Santiago(Cape Verde), for the VHF coverage extension of the Dakar Oceanic FIR

21. TABLE 2 FIR REMOTE VHF STATONS ANTANANARIVO 3 BRAZZAVILLE 2 DAKAR 4
KANO
LAGOS
MAURICE
NIAMEY
N’DJAMENA 5
TOTAL 28

22. TABLE 3 FIR REMOTE STATION VHF FREQUENCY COVERED AREA COVERED ROUTES
COORDINATES
VHF FREQUENCY
COVERED AREA
COVERED ROUTES
IN SERVICE
DAKAR
CONTINENTAL
BIR MOGRHEIN
25° 13’ N
11° 36’ W
129.5
North
UR 975,UM 372
UR 977,UA 854
UG 852
2002
ATAR
20° 31’ N
13° 03’ W
Centre
UR 975,UB 728
UA 854,UM 725
UG 861,UG 851
UR 620,UB 601
TAMBACOUNDA
13° 44’ N
13° 39’ W
South-East
UA 601,UR 979
UB 600,UM 974
UR 620,UR 865
UB 728,UM 372
1996
NOUADHIBOU
20° 56’ N
17° 02’ W
North-West
UB 601,UB 610
UG 583,UA 600
2003

23. NIAMEY FIR REMOTE STATION VHF FREQUENCY COVERED AREA COVERED ROUTES
COORDINATES
VHF FREQUENCY
COVERED AREA
COVERED ROUTES
IN SERVICE
NIAMEY
TESSALIT
20° 16’ N
01° 00’ E
126.1
North- West
UM 104 / UA 614
UB 727,UG 859
UM 608,UB 726
UM 114
2001
GAO
West
UB 727
UA 612,UG 859
UA 603,UR 981
UM 974,UA 600F
UM 608,UB 728
UR 866,UG 855
ZINDER
13° 50’ N
09° 00’ E
South-East
UR 778,UG 854
UG 858,UR 986
UA 604,UA 615
UB 731
AGADEZ
17° 00’ N
08° 04’ E
East
UA 615
UA 604
UR 978
UR 986
UG 858

24. Dirkou FIR REMOTE STATION VHF FREQUENCY COVERED AREA COVERED ROUTES
COORDINATES
VHF FREQUENCY
COVERED AREA
COVERED ROUTES
IN SERVICE
NDJAMENA
Dirkou
19° 10’ N
12° 54’ E
120.5
North-West
UG 727 / UM 731
UA 607,UB 730
UG 858,UR 778
UA 403,UG 862
2001
DIRE
15° 50’ N
14° 49’ E
West
UG 862, UA 403
UM 731 / UA 607
UR 778,UG 727
UM 998 / UA 605
1997
GAROUA
09° 19’ 50’’ N
13° 22’ 28’’ E
South-West
UW 400,UG 857
UB 736,UH 455G
UM 998 / UG 727
UW 605
FAYA LARGEAU
17° 56’ N
19° 07’ E
128.1
North-East
UG 655
UR 778
AMTIMAN
11° 02’ 22’’ N
20° 16’ 39’’ E
East
UG 862,UA 620
UW 605,UB 736
UG 655,UG 650

25. BOUAR FIR REMOTE STATION VHF FREQUENCY COVERED AREA COVERED ROUTES
COORDINATES
VHF FREQUENCY
COVERED AREA
COVERED ROUTES
IN SERVICE
BRAZZAVILLE
BOUAR
05° 57’ 10’’N
15°38’ 20’’E
127.1
North
UA 400,UA 500
UA 731,UA 463
UA 607,UA 609
1997
OUESSO
15° 50’ N
14° 49’ E
UA 731,UA 403
UA 410,UM 998
UA 610,UR 984
2000
ANTANANARIVO
ANTSIRANANA
12° 30’ 31’’ S
49° 11’ 25’’ E
128.9
UA 609,UR 780
UA 665,UR 465
UR 775,UR 790
UB 459,UG 661
1998
MAHAJANGA
15° 40’ 08’’ S
46° 20’ 56’’ S
North-West
UA 401
UB 536
TOLIARA
25° 02’ 09’’ S
46° 57’ 22’’ E
South-West
UG 652,UG 653
UA 402,UA 654

26. NON AERONAUTICAL SERVICES
It should be noted that in its area, ASECNA has implemented
an Administrative network including:
Phone communications between operational centres and with
the bodies of Headquarter in Dakar
Exchange of messages(Aeronautical Intranet)
Distance learning facilities.

27. III – CONCLUSION: The meeting is invited to:
take note of the above information
encourage and consolidate the intra/inter regional
cooperation in the implementation of quality ATS services
recommend the use of the available ground facilities,
supporting aeronautical telecommunications, to improve the
services given to the users