What a footprint really shows
A satellite footprint map is not a weather chart. It plots where the designers expect a given signal level on the ground or at sea, using assumptions about antenna size, uplink power, and modulation. Different lines or shading bands mark equal received power, often called contour lines. When you move outside the strongest band, you may still receive usable service, but you should expect more margin pressure, larger antennas, or lower modulation orders.
For Telenor Satellite customers, broadcast footprints describe video neighbourhoods, while data products show where Anker maritime and land VSAT services are intended to operate. Always align the map revision date with your contract annex or service bulletin so you are working from the same transponder list and beam naming as operations.
Five checks before you trust a contour
- Confirm the satellite name and orbital slot. Our satellite fleet pages list THOR 10-02, THOR 7, and related capacity you may see on drawings.
- Match the frequency band. Ku maps differ from Ka spot beams. Maritime Ka on THOR 7 can look like tight islands along shipping lanes, while Ku regional beams look wider.
- Read the legend. It tells you the reference dish size and whether the contour is based on degradation limits used for video, IP services, or both.
- Compare the map to your terminals. If your vessel carries a 60 cm reflector but the outer contour assumes 90 cm, your real threshold will sit closer to the beam centre than the line suggests.
- Cross-check with operations when you sit near an edge. Minor repointing, a higher rated BUC, or a move to another beam may be cheaper than chasing faults caused by atmospheric loss or blockage.
How we publish updates
Coverage PDFs change when transponders are reconfigured, new beams are lit, or regulatory filings require revised contours. When maps change, supporting notes usually describe whether existing terminals need a software key, a repoint, or only an NMS profile refresh. If your procurement team stores old PDFs in a share drive, date the filename and keep one working copy on the project record that matches the notice email number.
When to ask for a review
If your site sits on a contour knee, if you add a route through seasonal rain regions, or if you combine broadcast receivers with VSAT on the same mast, ask your Telenor Satellite contact for a brief technical review. Bring coordinates, planned modulation, and your hardware datasheet. That keeps link budgets tied to live capacity rather than old screenshots.
For commercial next steps, start at the Data Services hub or the Broadcast Services overview, then follow the menu path you already use internally. You can always step back to the homepage if you need announcements or event dates.
