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By: Amber Corrin
Today’s demand for satellite communications bandwidth is insatiable. With the need for 24/7 online communications, high-speed data sharing of large files and broadly dispersed missions, SATCOM’s role in strategic and tactical operations can’t be understated.
Trends are emerging in SATCOM, where a symbiotic relationship is taking shape between the military, civilian agencies and commercial industry to provide much-needed SATCOM to troops around the world.
“I think all of the satellite providers are positioned to provide commercial bandwidth to the government. I think, using the Army, for example, I know they are trying to consolidate and maybe use more of the [Wideband Global SATCOM system (WGS)] so they can cut back on costs,” said Tonney Chandler, SES Government Solutions program manager for commercial SATCOM. “But at some point when you saturate the WGS, there will still be a need for commercial bandwidth. So it is a tug of war of the government trying to balance what an efficient amount is to use on commercial satellites and on government satellites. Where can we reduce costs so that they aren’t spending as much as they are currently spending on commercial satellites? And that’s something that industry has been sensitive to as well, because we understand that this is taxpayers’ money, and we have to be careful in how that is being spent.”
On the Army side of things, Product Director for Product Lead, Wideband Enterprise Satellite Systems (WESS) in the Army’s office of Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems Lt. Col. Joel Babbitt’s mission is to equip soldiers with the high-tech, fast-moving SATCOM systems needed to conduct missions on the ground, regardless of location. But he’s also responsible for projects that upgrade the Army’s aging satellite and communications systems, some decades old, with efforts such as the Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) program, which will help upgrade and field by 2023 more than 100 terminals across the military — not just the Army.
In a December webcast with C4ISRNET, Babbitt outlined some of his key projects and top priorities, and explained how they impact the military.
“The existing satellite dishes that are out there are lower bandwidth, lower throughput. They require more power, their electronics are aged and dated,” Babbitt said.
The MET upgrade, along with WGS' and WESS' other myriad projects, are helping to meet a rapidly increasing demand for communications on the move; smaller, lighter, faster capabilities; and more secure satellite systems. Those are the top emerging trends, Babbitt said.
Lt. Col. Joel Babbitt, left, joins the Maryland Army National Guard’s Company C (Signal) of the 29th Infantry Division as it becomes the first unit in the Army to field and train on the latest tactical network at the Military Reservation in Pikesville, Md., on Jan. 14, 2015.Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Michael E. Davis Jr./Maryland National Guard
WGS alone has launched eight satellites, each providing more bandwidth to meet increasing demand, the highest of which went up in December with WGS 8.
“One things that is important for people to understand is that WGS 1 through 6 … were high bandwidth back in the day when they were fielded, [but] nowadays they are relatively low bandwidth,” Babbitt said. “So WGS-7 is a medium bandwidth sort of satellite, but WGS 8, 9 and 10, the last three in the constellation … those are some really high bandwidth satellites. It’s essentially quadrupling the bandwidth, almost, with the last three satellites.”
But also key to accommodate higher demand and, in turn, higher bandwidth, is finding the right mix of commercial SATCOM and military SATCOM. That’s an ongoing effort that includes pathfinder projects among other initiatives, as both government and industry seek answers.
“There are different scenarios that require a rapid response or may have certain areas where the commercial bandwidth … can provide better coverage and more flexibility. And so I don’t think you can ever rule out the commercial usage in supporting [the Department of Defense], but I do understand their need or their desire to put as much as they can on the government-owned satellite,” Chandler said. “There have been various studies that say the government satellite saves them tremendously more money as opposed to using a commercial satellite. But there is a trade-off at some point where it may be better to use the commercial satellite because of the flexibility and the time constraints.
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