Earlier this month, Government Executive ran an excellent story on government contracting and a method of procurement known as “lowest price/technically acceptable,” or LPTA. The article makes a very strong case regarding the severe limitations of such an approach.
There are certainly some types of service that are appropriate candidates for LPTA. Where the technology involved […]
LPTA Threatens U.S. Supremacy in Space Read More »
Intelsat’s new Epic satellites represent a major design breakthrough in a next-generation platform that will set the global standard for high-throughput technology.
As we have previously highlighted on Satcom Frontier, Intelsat Epic delivers performance and capabilities not previously possible. Compared to current Intelsat IX series Ku-band spot beams, the initial Intelsat Epic satellites provide Ku-band EIRP and
Q&A: Insights Into Intelsat Epic Applications Read More »
Satellite interference is one of the most persistent issues facing both satellite operators and end users because it can degrade or disrupt service. As more and more information services come to depend on satellite connectivity, satellite communications (SATCOM) has never been more vital.
In the military arena, interference sometimes can be caused by adversaries, who are
Recently a study conducted by the DoD came out purporting to show that commercial satellite bandwidth is more expensive than bandwidth provided by military-owned satellites. Here’s a story from Space News on the report.
Back in August, my colleague Bryan Benedict addressed such cost comparisons in an insightful SatCom Frontier post entitled “The Top Five Hidden Costs
The Cost of COMSATCOM vs. MILSATCOM Read More »
With the rise of network-centric warfare, the connectivity and situational awareness delivered by satellite communications (SATCOM) has never been more vital. Potential adversaries are experimenting with ways to disrupt the satellite bandwidth that provides our forces with critical ISR superiority in theater.
Intelsat General Corporation’s (“IGC”) Protected Communications Team is chartered to identify, research, and employ
Building a More Resilient SATCOM – Protected Communications Read More »
I’ve worked in the space industry for many years serving both commercial and government customers. One of my most consistent frustrations is hearing how much more expensive it is for government to purchase commercial satellite services or to host USG payloads on commercial spacecraft rather than using USG-owned space assets. No matter how often this
The Top 5 Hidden Costs of Today’s DoD Space Programs Read More »
Intelsat General (IGC) has been providing reliable communications-on-the-move (COTM) via satellite to remotely piloted aircraft since the early 2000s. Airborne Satellite COTM is used to address two primary applications for manned and unmanned aircraft: en-route communications for senior leadership and airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (AISR) missions.
Over the last decade, Intelsat General has designed several
Proven COTM Solutions – For Today and Tomorrow Read More »
Diminishing military budgets and resources, as well as vast areas of the Pacific Ocean with minimal satellite coverage, are creating an ever-expanding need for bandwidth for the U.S. military.
According to a recent Breaking Defense article, Intelsat General hopes to play a significant role in supplying the military with the bandwidth it needs to be mission-effective
An ‘Epic’ Foray Into Military Satcom Read More »
The U.S. government leases a significant amount of commercial satellite bandwidth to conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (AISR) missions over the hotspots of the world. These missions, using both manned and unmanned aircraft, depend upon high-capacity satellite bandwidth to transmit sensor data including full-motion video from the aircraft back to distant command bases.
Recent testing
From ongoing penetrations by “hacktivists” to state-sponsored attacks, cyber threats against satellite communications networks are proliferating at an alarming rate. The constantly shifting arena is putting extra accountability on commercial providers, who are not immune from the same threats the government faces.
This ongoing challenge reinforces the need for advanced security technologies to stay one step
Helping Customers Face Increasing Cyber Threats Read More »
By Vinit Duggal, Director and Chief Information Security Officer, Intelsat
Reposted from the Intelsat Corporation blog.
Today’s threat landscape is persistent and pervasive. The volume of attacks and level of sophistication are only increasing. The recent state sponsored attacks and data breaches at major global organizations have raised the alert level on cybersecurity to unprecedented
Five Questions to Ask Your Satellite Service Provider About Information Assurance Read More »
Commercial satellite capacity has proven its reliability over the last decade of U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Southwest Asia and Africa, and is increasingly being considered as a centerpiece of the Pentagon’s future strategy. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is now considering the best approach for the future to ensure that it
Why Ku-band Makes the Most Sense for the DoD Read More »
SatCom Frontier recently spoke with David Bruner, Vice President of global communications services at Panasonic Avionics Corporation. David talks below about Panasonic’s move into providing in-flight broadband connectivity, and the ongoing Ku- vs. Ka-band HTS debate.
Please give some background on your business division inside Panasonic.
We’ve been in the in-flight entertainment market for more than
Interview with David Bruner of Panasonic Avionics Read More »
The American military enjoys a large C4/ISR superiority over any other force in the world today. This superiority is fueled by satellite communications (SATCOM) bandwidth. Due to the imperative of preserving this vital advantage and the natural course of technological advancements, the need for SATCOM bandwidth is projected to keep increasing for at least a
Modifying UAS CONOPS Would Dramatically Increase Bandwidth Options Read More »
The U.S. Government makes extensive use of satellite communications (SATCOM). Military and commercial SATCOM infrastructure can provide data, video, and voice connectivity between any two locations on the earth or in the air. And it can do so much more quickly than other wired and wireless alternatives. Government SATCOM, however, has an impending security challenge.
In
Protected Communications on Commercial Satellites Read More »
In a recent white paper, Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) acknowledged that government needs to do more to eliminate obstacles that impede agencies from moving forward with innovative commercial satellite communication (COMSATCOM) business arrangements. These obstacles are preventing the more efficient acquisition of the SATCOM bandwidth government customers need, and the need will only escalate
Protecting Our Nation’s Space Supremacy Read More »
People making decisions about buying satellite communications services for their agency or company recently have been bombarded in ads and articles with conflicting and sometimes confusing information about the new high-throughput spacecraft using both the Ka and Ku spectrum bands. Satellites using both bands will be going into space in the coming years that use
Recently, I spoke about Intelsat Epic satellites, Intelsat’s next-generation of satellite designs, at Newtec’s Government and Defense Seminar held in the Washington, D.C. area. Intelsat Epic incorporates multiple smaller spot-beams with high frequency re-use. This design delivers performance, coverages, and connectivities previously not possible. Performance on an Intelsat Epic satellite is improved not only in
Examples of Epic High Throughput Performance Read More »
In areas like Africa and the Caribbean, the combination of poverty and tropical weather create an environment that is ripe for the incubation and spread of communicable diseases.
Real-time satellite communications allows organizations like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to more effectively manage potential public health issues in these regions of the world.
A core part
Providing Satellite Communications to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Read More »
Comparing Ku-band and Ka-band satellite capacity is a high interest topic right now in the satellite industry. In fact, a previous story we wrote on this topic is one of the best read pages on SATCOM Frontier.
A new study just released sheds new light on this important topic. Presented late last month at the International
Ku-band vs. Ka-band – What’s the Real Story? Read More »
