Satellite Operator SES to Provide Services to U.S. Defense Department
SES, the global satellite operator, has just announced a five-year agreement with the U.S. Defense Department. And guess what? It’s worth up to a whopping $270 million!
Bringing Broadband Connectivity to the Armed Forces
This agreement is all about satellite communications services from the SES O3b broadband constellation in medium Earth orbit. It’s part of a larger blanket purchase agreement that SES signed with the Defense Information Systems Agency back in 2018.
Under this agreement, the O3b constellation will be available to the U.S. armed forces as a managed service. This means they’ll have access to broadband satellite services, gateway services, terminals, technical support, installation services, terrestrial backhaul, and training. It’s a comprehensive package!
SES Space & Defense: Serving the U.S. Government
SES, with its headquarters in Luxembourg, is no stranger to providing services to the U.S. government. In fact, they do it through their subsidiary SES Space & Defense, which is based in Reston, Virginia. They’ve got the experience and expertise to deliver top-notch satellite communications.
David Fields, the president and CEO of SES Space & Defense, expressed his excitement about the new blanket purchase agreement. He sees it as a clear indication of the DoD’s continued interest in medium Earth orbit as a crucial commercial satellite communications capability.
Next-Generation O3b Satellites: A Bump in the Road
SES has been providing satellite services to the DoD for quite some time now, and they recently launched their next-generation O3b mPower satellites. These new satellites are expected to provide ten times more throughput than the previous ones, which is a significant improvement.
However, there have been some technical issues with the first four O3b mPower satellites. These issues will reduce their operational life and broadband capacity. But fear not! SES has a plan. They’re working with Boeing to build two additional O3b mPower satellites and upgrade five others to ensure they meet the performance expectations.
Conclusion
Despite SES’s substantial $270 million deal with the U.S. Defense Department for broadband services, technical hiccups with the new O3b mPower satellites present a challenge. While these satellites promise remarkable enhancements, initial issues may affect their operational capacity. SES remains proactive, partnering with Boeing to rectify and bolster the existing fleet.
This setback underscores the complexities of advancing technology. Nonetheless, SES’s commitment to delivering top-tier satellite services to the U.S. government, exemplified through their SES Space & Defense subsidiary, signifies a resilient dedication to fortifying communication capabilities, ensuring a reliable and robust network for the armed forces.
Photo: NASA/CIL/Chris Meaney, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
