U.S.-based MTN Government (MTNGOV) announced it has extended its military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) capabilities throughout Europe and Southwest Asia.
MTN Government extends MILSATCOM capabilities
U.S.-based MTN Government (MTNGOV) announced it has extended its military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) capabilities throughout Europe and Southwest Asia.
The company is using a 12-meter X-band antenna capable of supporting remote, small-aperture users. The new antenna complements an existing five-meter antenna that supports the company’s XTAR LANT and XTAR EUR services.
The commercial X-band antenna is located at the company’s teleport in Santander, Spain and is a joint venture with Erzia Technologies.
“MTNGOV has been working to bring this capability to our U.S. Department of Defense customers since 2012 when the two X-band antennas were first installed at our teleport in Santander,” said Scott Davis, senior director of engineering at MTNGOV. “The Santander Teleport is now licensed to offer X-band services for mobile, aviation and remote operations using terminals less than a meter in diameter.”
Davis said there are technical and operational advantages to X-band communications that include the following:
Freedom from the clutter of commercial users and possible interference
Rain-fade resistance
Maximized throughput, matching or exceeding other frequencies
Maximized throughput, matching or exceeding other frequencies
Higher power for mobility applications
High data rates with existing DoD X-band terminals
“MTNGOV’s extended antenna capabilities at Santander will certainly be a welcome resource to users of XTAR satellites,” said Andrew Ruszkowski, chief commercial officer at XTAR, which owns and operates XTAR LANT and XTAR EUR. “X-band’s tremendous advantages to users and its government-only designation mean that XTAR continues to see increased demand for access to its service.”
MTNGOV’s joint venture partner, Erzia, uses the X-band service for a Spanish oceanographic mission supporting operations at Spain’s Antarctica Base Juan Carlos 1.
