WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--COMSAT, Inc., a leading operator of customized and secure end-to-end satellite communication services to the U.S. government and Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communication services, have been supporting U.S. and Republic of the Philippines forces in the Balikatan 2016 (BK16) exercise, which took place in the Philippines, April 4 to 16. COMSAT, a value-added reseller of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services, worked with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), who organized and managed the exercise, to integrate Global Xpress into the scenarios for BK16. The Global Xpress service was provided via a Cobham 5075 terminal which was deployed with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Balikatan is an annual military exercise between U.S. joint forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with multinational participants such as Australia. The BK16 exercise focused on a variety of missions to include humanitarian assistance, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection. During this exercise, U.S. forces conducted humanitarian civil assistance projects with the AFP throughout the Philippine archipelago.
There were also combined operational events between U.S. forces, the three main branches of the AFP, and other major Philippine military camps to improve collaboration, increase partnership capabilities, and plan for follow-on operations.
“As part of this exercise, our intention was to support MARFORPAC in this exercise by bringing new and innovative cost-effective communication technologies that support mission success. Unlike competitive offerings, the service is readily available today and offers unmatched end-user benefits,” said Nancy Ho, Vice President, Business Development, U.S. Government / Military, COMSAT, Inc. “The ease of use and performance of the Global Xpress solution was able to deliver a reliable, core communications link during the exercise.”
The Global Xpress SATCOM as a Service end-to-end managed service capability allowed the Cobham 5075 terminal to be tested at COMSAT offices in Herndon, VA; shipped to the Philippines; and brought online within minutes -- a significant step-change compared to the traditional VSAT capability, which requires operator intervention to reconfigure a terminal to operate in a new geographic location.
Because of its global mobility, ease-of-use and high throughput, users were able to set up the Global Xpress terminal and acquire service in just minutes for their web browsing and email applications at Basa Air Base, the designated headquarters for all U.S. Marine Corps Forces involved in the exercise. Supported by the only commercial worldwide Ka-band constellation built for mobility available from a single operator, Global Xpress delivered BK16 exercise users with end-to-end, seamless ‘SATCOM as a Service’ capability – compatible with MILSATCOM systems and available on demand, no matter the environment or the geographic location.
“We have a proven track record of more than 35 years delivering mobile satellite communication capabilities to U.S. government users worldwide. Through collaborations with our skilled partners like COMSAT, we have successfully demonstrated that Global Xpress delivers a highly reliable Ka-band network to meet mobile, on-demand communication needs, worldwide,” said Kai Tang, Inmarsat’s Vice President of Market Development, U.S. Government. “We believe that the BK16 exercise users were able to see first-hand the benefits Global Xpress delivers – seamless, consistent wideband access from a single operator that supports mobile, interoperable communication needs, at an affordable price.”
About COMSAT
Headquartered in Herndon, VA, is part of Satcom Direct (SD), the leading provider of satellite voice and broadband data solutions for flight deck and cabin communications serving business, military, government, and heads of state aircraft. With a direct lineage from the COMSAT organization that was created by the Communications Satellite Act of 1962, the company has played an important role in the SATCOM industry from its inception to present day. COMSAT offers a broad array of advanced solutions to meet U.S. military and commercial requirements, including fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, homeland security systems, public safety communications, defense electronics and avionics, and threat detection. COMSAT’s key milestones include being a founding member of Intelsat; operating the Marisat fleet network, which provided the first mobile satellite communications services to the United States Navy; and founding the initial operating system of Inmarsat from the company’s two earth stations.
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.
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