Satellite Technology Feature Article
January 15, 2010
Globecomm Systems Receives Contract Extension from NATO
By Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributor
Globecomm Systems Inc., a global provider of satellite-based communications infrastructure solutions and services, reportedly has received a contract extension from NATO valued at $9.1 million to extend communication services and onsite support for the company’s previously deployed GPS-Based Force Tracking System.
The company previously announced approximately $35 million in contracts from NATO for this project to design and install a GPS FTS (News - Alert), bringing the combined contract value to approximately $44 million.
According to company officials, the FTS provides NATO with high levels of tracking data and messaging traffic. It helps NATO identify where its personnel are located at all times, identify other multi-national forces and have the ability to do so in routine and operational situations. This is critical in assisting with the identification of friendly forces and helps prevent fratricide or “blue-on-blue” incidents.
“Globecomm’s relationship with NATO continues to expand. The extension of this contract demonstrates the importance of this vital service Globecomm is providing to this customer,” Paul Knudsen, vice president of Globecomm’s Eastern Atlantic team, said in a statement.
TMCnet recently reported that Globecomm has invested in a 3G core switch to expand its managed wireless business to offer 3G hosted mobile services to under-serviced areas worldwide.
In a release, company officials said the 3G services include voice, video, and data services and further enhance Globecomm’s rapidly growing hosted switch, roaming and managed network service businesses. This means carriers will now have access to broadened wireless coverage through Globecomm’s carrier-class 3G switch platform without a major capital or operational investment.
In December, Globecomm Systems (News - Alert) announced the introduction of an operational commercial X-band service offering to US Military and Coalition Forces operating in Southwest Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Globecomm’s end-to-end X-band offering combines licensed teleport assets, a global fiber network, commercial X-band space segment, a redundant iDirect (News - Alert) Internet Protocol services platform, and a wide range of satellite terminal equipment options.
This service provisioning will support the demand for increased U.S. Military and Coalition Forces’ bandwidth requirements in an IP-centric fashion.
This service provisioning will support the demand for increased U.S. Military and Coalition Forces’ bandwidth requirements in an IP-centric fashion.
Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Amy Tierney
