Subject: Meteosat-5 Digital Data Encryption From: "Paquette, John" Date: Fri, 17 Nov 95 15:35:40 EST METEOSAT DATA ACCESS FOR U.S. USERS -- Update (16 NOV 1995) Under an agreement with EUMETSAT regarding use of encrypted High Resolution Imagery data from METEOSAT, NOAA and its affiliates have full access and use of all METEOSAT data worldwide without fee (for non-commercial use only.) Three hourly (at synoptic hours) high resolution image data will be available for Government use, i.e., by NOAA and its affiliates, worldwide. These data will be decrypted and distributed by NOAA and may be used commercially by any user within the U.S. territories. To facilitate this, NOAA will install a data decryptor at the Wallops CDA station. The decryptor at Wallops will be timed to decrypt data on the three hour synoptic intervals. These data will then be rebroadcast via the DOMSAT. Hourly and half-hourly high resolution data will be encrypted, but may be decrypted in the U.S. for use by NOAA, its affiliates, and others having signed an agreement with EUMETSAT for use of these data. Data may be received directly from the METEOSAT satellite or received via commercial DOMSAT communication satellite if a decryption unit is installed at the user site. The decryptors at Camp Springs will decrypt the half-hourly data for NOAA product generation and other government uses. Encrypted data will be transmitted over the DOMSAT, as stated above. To decrypt data, a user must obtain authorization and decryption keys from EUMETSAT. NOAA affiliates may register with EUMETSAT to obtain encrypted data at the cost of decryption hardware. Under the agreement, the restrictions on distribution and use do not apply when the data are 3 days old or older. Analogue WEFAX data will continue to be broadcast from the satellite without restriction. Encryption Schedule Status Starting December 4, 1995, at. 1130 UTC, EUMETSAT plans to encrypt Meteosat-5 digital data 24 hours per day with the exception of 00, UTC, 06 UTC, etc. Current encryption times are 0830 UTC to 1430 UTC, daily. As an interim plan (approved by EUMETSAT and CDA), decrypted data from the CDA through DOMSAT will be provided to NOAA and other U.S. users until decryption equipment is certified at the NOAA Science Center. NESDIS plans to have this action completed by December 4, pending results of upcoming tests. Hence, all U.S. DOMSAT users who wish to receive Meteosat-5 HRI digital data should plan to be configured for encrypted broadcast by December 4. John Paquette Satellite Services Division Subject: Meteosat-5 Digital Data Encryption Update From: "Paquette, John" Date: Fri, 01 Dec 95 11:33:59 EST Meteosat-5 Encryption Schedule Update Starting December 4, 1995, at 1130 UTC, EUMETSAT plans to encrypt Meteosat-5 digital data 24 hours per day with the exception of 00, UTC, 06 UTC, etc. Current encryption times are 0830 UTC to 1430 UTC, daily. As an interim plan, decrypted data from the CDA through DOMSAT will be provided to NOAA and other U.S. users until decryption equipment is certified at the NOAA Science Center and other U.S. Government offices. Due to persistent technical difficulties at these offices, decrypted or in the clear data formats (at synoptic times) will continue to be provided through DOMSAT following the December 4 implementation date. NESDIS expects this configuration to be maintained for the next two months. In order to receive decrypted data formats in the interim, users are requested to bypass or deactivate decryption devices if installed at their data ingest sites. NESDIS will provide updates as conditions warrant. John Paquette Satellite Services Division