{"id":28794,"date":"2017-01-25T02:05:59","date_gmt":"2017-01-25T02:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/01\/25\/satellite-tug-of-war-finding-the-right-mix-of-government-commercial-satcom\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:17:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:17:54","slug":"satellite-tug-of-war-finding-the-right-mix-of-government-commercial-satcom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2017\/01\/25\/satellite-tug-of-war-finding-the-right-mix-of-government-commercial-satcom\/","title":{"rendered":"Satellite tug of war: Finding the right mix of government, commercial SATCOM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Today\u2019s 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\u2019s role in strategic and tactical operations can\u2019t be understated.<br\/><br\/> 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.<br\/><br\/> &#8220;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,&#8221; said Tonney Chandler, SES Government Solutions program manager for commercial SATCOM. &#8220;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\u2019t spending as much as they are currently spending on commercial satellites? And that\u2019s something that industry has been sensitive to as well, because we understand that this is taxpayers\u2019 money, and we have to be careful in how that is being spent.&#8221;<br\/><br\/><b><a class=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/link.defensenews.com\/join\/5ba\/sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Link: null\">To get all the news about space and strategic systems delivered to your inbox every month, be sure to sign up for our Military Space Report newsletter.<\/a><\/b><br\/><br\/>On the Army side of things, Product Director for Product Lead, Wideband Enterprise Satellite Systems (WESS) in the Army\u2019s office of Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems Lt. Col. Joel Babbitt\u2019s 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\u2019s also responsible for projects that upgrade the Army\u2019s 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\u00a0\u2014\u00a0not just the Army.<br\/><br\/> In a December webcast with C4ISRNET, Babbitt outlined some of his key projects and top priorities, and explained how they impact the military.<br\/><br\/> &#8220;The existing satellite dishes that are out there are lower bandwidth, lower throughput. They require more power, their electronics are aged and dated,&#8221; Babbitt said. <br\/><br\/> The MET upgrade, along with WGS&#8217; and WESS&#8217; 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.<br\/><br\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Babbitt\" data-alignment=\"center\" data-object-id=\"00000159-d629-ddce-ad5d-de6dc95b0000\" data-type=\"image\" src=\"http:\/\/snagfilms-a.akamaihd.net\/e7\/49\/a1fcd98e44ab83bbc7f7cd14c738\/babbitt.jpg\"\/><figcaption> <span>Lt. Col. Joel Babbitt, left, joins the Maryland Army National Guard\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/figcaption><figcaption> <span>Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Michael E. Davis Jr.\/Maryland National Guard<\/span><\/figcaption><br\/> 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. <br\/><br\/> &#8220;One things that is important for people to understand is that WGS 1 through 6 \u2026 were high bandwidth back in the day when they were fielded, [but] nowadays they are relatively low bandwidth,&#8221; Babbitt said. &#8220;So WGS-7 is a medium bandwidth sort of satellite, but WGS 8, 9 and 10, the last three in the constellation \u2026 those are some really high bandwidth satellites. It\u2019s essentially quadrupling the bandwidth, almost, with the last three satellites.&#8221;<br\/><br\/> But also key to accommodate higher demand and, in turn, higher bandwidth, is finding the right mix of commercial SATCOM and military SATCOM. That\u2019s an ongoing effort that includes pathfinder projects among other initiatives, as both government and industry seek answers.<br\/><br\/><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;There are different scenarios that require a rapid response or may have certain areas where the commercial bandwidth \u2026 can provide better coverage and more flexibility. And so I don\u2019t 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,&#8221; Chandler said. &#8220;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I think there is always room for better coordination, but I think it has gotten better.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A symbiotic relationship is emerging between DoD, civilian agencies and industry to provide much-needed SATCOM to deployed 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