New direct-to-cell satellite tv for pc tech might disrupt billion-dollar army satcom applications

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Area Drive is intently watching the event of economic satellite tv for pc communications providers that permit normal smartphones to attach on to satellites, seeing the expertise as probably disruptive to present army narrowband satcom techniques like MUOS, officers stated June 10.

“We view direct-to-cell as a very disruptive factor,” stated Col. Eric Felt, director of area structure on the workplace of the assistant secretary of the Air Drive for area acquisition and integration.

Talking at SAE Media Group’s Milsatcom USA convention, Felt stated his workplace is monitoring developments in business satellite tv for pc communications corresponding to direct-to-cell providers. These providers might probably improve or change devoted army narrowband satcom techniques just like the Cellular Person Goal System (MUOS), which offers safe voice and information to cellular forces. 

“How that expertise develops goes to play out in how we offer service to the narrowband customers,” stated Felt. 

Felt stated these new applied sciences might give U.S. forces another path to satcom resilience. The Area Drive plans to purchase two new narrowband communications satellites from both Lockheed Martin or Boeing to modernize the present constellation of 5 MUOS satellites in geosynchronous orbit. 

This system, referred to as MUOS Service Life Extension, would permit MUOS to supply providers nicely into the 2030s, Felt famous. However the army is trying to experiment with business direct-to-cell providers because it weighs choices for what comes after MUOS. 

A Area Drive group referred to as the Area Warfighting Evaluation Heart is about to finish a examine of the longer term narrowband structure, stated Felt. “They’re taking a look at all types of choices. The actually disruptive factor right here is direct to cell, 5G from area.” 

The MUOS service life extension program, siad Felt, “bridges us into the 2030s once we can begin migrating away from the present MUOS terminals to one thing totally different.”

Direct-to-cell satcom permits primary connectivity like messaging on common smartphones in areas with out cell protection, by having the cellphone sign route via a satellite tv for pc in orbit after which to terrestrial networks. Corporations like Starlink, Iridium, Lynk World, AST SpaceMobile and others are racing to carry these providers to market.

Felt identified that cybersecurity would should be intently evaluated with any business service. However the expertise’s potential upside — immediately connecting troops on any system to resilient satellite tv for pc communications with out particular gear — has the Pentagon keen to check it.

Iridium’s contract

Clare Hopper, head of the Area Drive’s Business Satellite tv for pc Communications Workplace (CSCO), stated some direct-to-cell satcom suppliers have been chosen to compete for activity orders below the Proliferated Low Earth Orbit satellite tv for pc providers contract.

“I feel it’s improbable,” Hopper stated on the Milsatcom USA convention. “It’s a great match for it,” she added. “That’s normally essentially the most optimum approach to go about getting providers on contract.”

Hopper stated future developments in direct-to-cell expertise would reshape the Pentagon’s subsequent contract with Iridium. The corporate in 2019 gained the Enhanced Cellular Satellite tv for pc Companies (EMSS) contract that gives DoD customers worldwide entry to Iridium’s satellite tv for pc community, providing limitless voice calls and narrowband information transmissions.

Iridium is growing a brand new direct-to-cell service referred to as Challenge Stardust that may permit normal smartphones to connect with its LEO satellite tv for pc community.

Hopper famous that Iridium’s contract can be up for renewal in 2026. “Traditionally, we’ve had a really lengthy and profitable partnership with Iridium,” she stated. “And we’re already planning what the subsequent technology of that program seems to be like, not simply the partnership with Iridium, which we count on to proceed, but additionally what different capabilities would possibly develop into EMSS.”

“We’re actually excited concerning the trajectory of that program and the place it’d go,” Hopper stated. “We’re wanting into how one can evolve EMSS typically … and the service plans we provide might change as nicely.”

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