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On-Demand Aeronautical SATCOM Service Takes Off with Satcom Direct and XTAR Partnership
[February 03, 2016]

On-Demand Aeronautical SATCOM Service Takes Off with Satcom Direct and XTAR Partnership


XTAR, LLC, a U.S.-based commercial X-band satellite operator, and Satcom Direct Communications (SDC), the military and government division of Satcom Direct and leading provider of aeronautical connectivity solutions, today announced their partnership to offer a new, on-demand and minutes-based SATCOM service for military and government end users. This non-pre-emptible and highly flexible service will be available as a stand-alone service or as a roaming service to augment the Government's WGS X-Band constellation. The service will provide throughput rates from the aircraft up to 12 Mbps under a pay-per-use price structure, a first of its kind offering unavailable elsewhere in the marketplace.

The X-band service will address the growing requirements for airborne beyond-line-of-sight bandwidth for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, VIP transport, as well as testing and training of new terminals and aircraft. The service will leverage the unique capabilities of the X-band frequency range - the ideal environment for ultra-small satellite terminals operating in symmetric and asymmetric mode. Airborne satellite terminals approved for use on the XTAR constellation will be based on iDirect's (News - Alert) eVolution and Velocity modem technology. With XTAR providing the space segment, SDC's first X-band end-to-end high throughput teleport/hub has been brought online via teleport service from a North American location alleviating the burden for the aircraft end user to provide their own (and often expensive) ground infrasructure.



"Demands for new airborne resources are growing exponentially in the aeronautical sector," said David Greenhill, President of Satcom Direct Communications. "Delivering flexible solutions which directly support coalition military and government requirements for mission specific inter-connectivity at very high data rates is an important part of our commitment to meeting the changing needs of our end users."

"Many government users require tremendous throughput potential, at exactly the right time and without interruption, yet must achieve their mission in a cost-effective manner. This partnership makes X-band accessible to a new class of user, including those operating small airframes," said Philip Harlow, President and Chief Operating Officer of XTAR (News - Alert). "We are extremely pleased to have partnered with Satcom Direct to support our military and government customers."


XTAR, LLC is a privately owned satellite operator delivering X-band services to U.S. and Allied government users. Its two satellite payloads, with high-powered global, fixed and steerable spot beams, readily support mobile applications. Today, XTAR enables mobile command posts, disaster response operations, special operations platforms on land and sea, and airborne sensor data operating in the harshest environments.

Interoperable with WGS, XTAR provides a range of services such as short-term solutions for initiating or maintaining coverage, a layered approach to use the two systems in tandem, or as a long term alternative. XTAR users experience non-pre-emptible space segment, operational independence, and faster certification of new technology. Available coverage is from Denver east to Singapore. www.xtar.com.

About Satcom Direct and SDC: Satcom Direct (SD) provides global connectivity solutions for business and general aviation, military, government, and heads of state aircraft, as well as operations in areas with connectivity limitations such as remote locations, large scale events, and disaster recovery. Satcom Direct Communications (News - Alert) (SDC) focuses on satellite communications support for the United States' military and government including senior leadership aircraft, command and control, intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (ISR), and other mission-critical airborne platforms.

SD is a technology innovator. Since 1997, its teams have worked to advance the technology of connectivity, making SD the first in the marketplace to deliver numerous advancements and capabilities. The company is a premier Inmarsat Distribution Partner (including Jet ConneX), Iridium Service Partner, ViaSat (News - Alert) Yonder's preferred reseller, and the Exclusive Service Provider for SmartSky Networks.

Satcom Direct Communications provides services primarily to U.S. military and government operations. For more information regarding Satcom Direct Communications, visit www.satcomdirect.com, e-mail [email protected], or call the SDC support office in Alexandria, VA at +1.703.549.3009.


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