July 11, 2013 Source: Inmarsat

Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has announced the successful demonstration of its L-TACTM service on-the-move in vehicles at speeds up to 70 mph [112 kph].

The newly launched L-TAC service will provide approved government customers with a low cost Tactical UHF Satellite (TACSAT) capability solution, which allows soldiers on foot or in vehicles to communicate on-the-move, using their existing UHF tactical radios.

Available for order in July and for connectivity in August 2013, Inmarsat’s latest offering is the next step in the expansion of mobile Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications provided by the innovative technology behind its L-band satellites.

The L-band service uses smaller antennas than the UHF equivalent, making it practical to offer compact, inexpensive omni-directional antennas for mounted and dismounted use.

Andy Start, President, Inmarsat Global Government, commented: ““We have successfully demonstrated robust L-TAC communications from vehicles at speeds up to 70 mph. This will have huge military utility, for example coordinating logistic convoys moving over long distances or for command and control of widely dispersed vehicle patrols manoeuvring in difficult terrain.

“Our small, lightweight man-pack version offers the same comms on the move capability to dismounted soldiers. This is a real game-changing capability. Convoys and patrols won’t have to pause while using their TACSAT, and that means improved tempo and less time spent vulnerable to attack. We have received very positive feedback during the trial stage and governments around the world have already expressed keen interest in the service. L-TAC will provide a new, innovative and affordable means to gain maximum value from the investment they have made in their existing tactical radios.”

TACSAT is in very high demand by government users as it easily and reliably extends tactical Push-to-Talk radio networks to wide area BLOS operations, but existing networks are oversubscribed. Inmarsat’s L-TAC service, announced earlier this year, will complement existing capacity with a single-hop, low-latency voice and data service, providing additional capacity when UHF channels are unavailable. The powerful Inmarsat-4 constellation of satellites provides this capability across the globe. To access the service, users require only a small, light-weight adaptor to convert their existing radio to L-band and an L-band replacement for their existing UHF antenna.

Inmarsat has partnered with Spectra to develop the Slingshot system, which comprises a power supply, frequency convertor and antenna. SlingShot works with existing tactical military radios and requires minimal additional training to provide BLOS communications without the need for supplementary infrastructure or additional cumbersome gear. Slingshot™ supports the majority of military TACSAT radios and has already been tested with the most widely used types. Combined with Inmarsat’s L-TAC leased service, it is fully flexible and designed to meet security and reliability requirements cost-effectively. Users will be able to lease the service for periods as short as one month in either narrow spot beams, larger regional beams or beams customized to meet their area of operations.

Simon Davies, Managing Director, Spectra Group (UK) Ltd said: “The ability to use existing radios spread over long distances in the field to increase operational capabilities without straining government budgets is critical. As governments around the world review military budgets, offering a device which meets military standards, without large capital expenditure is a highly compelling offer.”

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.