Blog
Give X-band a chance as one size does not fit all
We at XTAR have said it before; having frequency band flexibility is key to giving government users the best service for the lowest price. It’s not one size fits all when it comes to bandwidth.
Read MoreDoD Acquisition Reform, Silicon Valley Innovation, and What These Should Tell Us about the Future of Satellite Communications
After years of watching struggling defense acquisition reform initiatives while simultaneously lauding the agility, responsiveness, and successes of U.S. industry (perhaps most notably, Silicon Valley companies), it is clear that the Department of Defense needs to transition from a traditional “you-buy-it, you-live-with-it” military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) architecture towards an agile, responsive, commercial-based satellite communications (COMSATCOM) solution to meet our…
Read MoreForeign Military Sales (FMS) and X-band Satellite Communications (SATCOM): A Long Overdue Marriage of Sorts
The U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, authorized under Section 3 of the Arms Export Control Act, specifically authorizes the sale of defense articles and services to foreign military and government end users. In a similar fashion, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has set aside certain bands of the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum, most notably X-band,…
Read MoreIn Partnership with Satcom Direct, On-Demand Aeronautical Service for the U.S. Government
We’ve listened to government airborne users who told us that their needs fall outside the scope of full time service (too expensive!) but could never be met by traditional metered service providers (not flexible!). XTAR and Satcom Direct, a leader in providing connectivity for airborne users for years, have forged a partnership to proactively meet…
Read MoreControl your own destiny
The satellite menu is a smorgasbord of options, particularly with the introduction in recent years of Ka-band. The search for effective Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) solutions for governments, particularly in this new world of ever-changing threats is fraught with misinformation and misperceptions. An effective solution is at your fingertips. You may not know about…
Read MoreCritical Communications Amid Heightened Tensions
The recent attacks in Paris, the refugee crises at border crossings, and the overall heightening of security in major cities are grave reminders of the importance of rapid deployments by military, security and special forces. And where there are forces, there must be communications links that are swiftly implemented, robust and secure. Whether a contingent…
Read MoreYou Have a Choice – USE IT!
“Anytime, anyplace, anywhere” – for those that remember it sounds like the old 1970’s Martini advert. In times of uncertainty, this has become the de-facto mantra of governments worldwide; demanding from its military and security forces the ability to respond “Anytime, anyplace, anywhere” to meet its future defence needs.
Read MoreXTAR Celebrates 10 Years of Service as the World Celebrates 70 Years of Satcom
70 years ago, in October 1945, on the heels of World War II, Arthur C. Clarke published his now famous article in Wireless World, “EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL RELAYS, Can Rocket Stations Give World-wide Radio Coverage?” It would be 12 more years before the Russians would launch Sputnik, followed closely by the U.S. with Explorer 1 on a Jupiter…
Read MoreLickity Split SATCOM Service
A SATCOM terminal manufacturer had been tasked with finding X-band space segment capacity and needed to quickly test their new mobile terminal for military users at Fort Bragg, NC. The catch was they needed service that same day!
Read MoreSize Matters — New Satellite Terminals Make Way for System Flexibility
Satellite connectivity is the key to beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications on UAVs. Traditionally, smaller UAVs (Class III with max weight of 1320 lbs and max speed 250 kts) have been limited to operating with line-of-site communications systems. Because they have not been able to accommodate large, power-hungry SATCOM terminals, which require substantial space on the aircraft,…
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