Mobile SATCOM: Service men and women deserve more capabilities – wherever they are

That is, after all, what the modern serviceman and woman needs: asymmetrical combat changes the rules of national security and homeland operations every day. Troops must stand ready to deploy anywhere on earth, at a moment’s notice for the full spectrum of engagement – not only as a result of conflict, but also due to natural disasters requiring humanitarian response. With the increasingly unpredictable nature of operations, servicemen and women have to get information from Point A to Point B with agility and cool-headed efficiency, and they depend upon satellite access and capabilities which are equally adaptive and up to the task.

At the recent Satellite 2015 conference in Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to expand upon this theme at a panel discussion titled: “Government Mobility Solutions: Offering Flexibility in an Uncertain World.” Primarily, my fellow panel participants and I talked about the ways in which the commercial sector and federal leaders can work together as partners to address the surge in mobility demand. We believe that, particularly in light of existing budget constraints, agencies should consider both government and commercial options in acquiring capacity, taking advantage of the best that each has to offer.

With Eron Miller, chief of the services division for DISA’s COMSATCOM Center, moderating our panel, I appreciated the opportunity to present Inmarsat’s vision for fully integrated, ‘SATCOM as a Service’-driven satellite communications by elaborating on the following, key conversation drivers:

Innovation in SATCOM solutions

In our everyday lives, we turn to our smartphones to instantly and on demand, book a hotel and flight, and then provide a weather update about the destination. Why should military units, the Intelligence Community and law enforcement officers expect any less functionality from satellite systems? There are a wide range of robust bands, terminals, interfaces and adaptable software solutions available to greatly enhance their operations. Users should benefit from consistent performance no matter where they are, whether on land, in the air or at sea.

We have designed our satellite systems for mobility from the ground up. You could be somewhere in the Pacific Ocean – or the Atlantic or the Indian or wherever – and you’ll receive the same coverage and Quality of Service (QoS) from one spot beam to another. The transition is so seamless and capable that the user need only focus on the execution of the mission without concern about the SATCOM capability – it is there when and where needed.

Acquisitions should seek “value”, not “least price technically acceptable”

It’s tough to buy into “least price technically available (LPTA) when human lives are on the line, especially since satellite systems offer so much: Ku-band is prolific, for example, establishing infrastructure as a commodity. Ka-band delivers outstanding throughput, resiliency and steer-ability. With L-band, you have the penetration required for high availability. Agencies should opt for a blend today to get the job done, not a blunt, one-size-fits-all approach. There isn’t a single, ‘perfect’ toolset. Yes, federal decision-makers are facing tough financial times. But when times get tough, strong organizations invest in lasting value. The entire agency environment and, thus, reputation suffers when the mission suffers. Anything less than complete access to a formidable mix of equipment, bands and capabilities will shortchange servicemen and women.

SATCOM as a Service brings immediacy to acquisition, deployment

We are committed to our ‘SATCOM as a Service’ capability, which allows for access on demand to satellite transponders, equipment terminals, backhaul, capacity, features – end to end. With no infrastructure charges or R&D investment on their part, customers travel from one location to another, and simply “plug in” to get what they need, when they need it. Thanks to solid Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with Committed Information Rates (CIR), there are no surprises with respect to the quality of what’s acquired. You know exactly what you’re buying, and know when and where you’re going to get it. SATCOM delivered as a managed service exists seemingly everywhere. So, what’s keeping our industry from going there?

Partnerships – not rivalries – build integrated environments

This is more about changing mindsets than coming up with something technically dazzling. Let’s face it there are plenty of “Us vs. Them” sentiments when it comes to going with either government or commercial providers, instead of pursuing an entirely integrated ‘One SATCOM’ architecture as well as mind set. We must collaborate together so private industry complements existing government strengths by filling in gaps, as opposed to both sides attempting to force out the other.

In times of duress, servicemen and women don’t care about the pathway that produces the satellite access, capacity and capabilities that they’re counting on. They only care that the functions are going to be there when they need them, regardless of their location. That’s what a mobility-driven partnership between the government and industry should strive for. The welfare of our nation depends upon it. Thus, we are obligated to deliver. We welcome your thoughts about these topics – in addition to any questions you have about our products and services.