The X-Factor: A SATCOM Blog

Satellite Bandwidth for Lunch: Buy or Bring?

The commercial satellite operators that support DoD missions have long advocated for changes to the way the DoD contracts for commercial satellite bandwidth. Why? Why would a commercial satellite operator want the DoD to become more efficient at buying its bandwidth? Shouldn’t commercial satellite operators be happy with selling bandwidth to the DoD each year…

Commercial X-band: In the ring with Ku- and Ka-Band

There is a lot of chatter in the marketplace right now regarding the pros and cons of Ka- vs. Ku-band. Commercial X-band, a frequency reserved entirely for U.S. and Allied Governments’ use, has multiple technical advantages which make it a solid contender in any bandwidth selection process, yet is has been strangely left out of…

Washington Post Coverage: XTAR Forms Industry Group with Other Commercial Operators…

…to Push for Change in DoD COMSATCOM Acquisition. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/commercial-satellite-companies-push-for-pentagon-attention/2013/02/01/f6d96082-6706-11e2-9e1b-07db1d2ccd5b_story.html

New Technology and User Requirements Drive Change in XTAR Strategy

The U.S. and its Allies are facing significant troop draw downs in Afghanistan. Potential massive spending cuts are looming in U.S. federal and state governments. Presumably the next conflict zones will lie in Asia. DoD procurement methods continue to constrain the cost-effective use of commercial SATCOM. New and continually more sophisticated technologies in intelligence, reconnaissance…