Multi-path, multi-orbit, and multi-frequency satellite capabilities are key enablers for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). One way to support these diverse SATCOM requirements is through strategic partnerships between satellite providers that operate across different orbits to agnostically integrate their solutions – providing a one-stop SATCOM shop for the military.

Here at SES Space & Defense, we are well positioned as both a satellite operator and an agnostic integrator, providing a strategic advantage in delivering resilient COMSATCOM solutions to our government and military customers. While SES is a satellite owner and operator in both MEO and GEO, we also have strategic agreements with LEO operators that enable us to offer global mission-ready solutions, supporting the warfighter across LEO, MEO and GEO. Our customers require very diverse capabilities to ensure resilient SATCOM, and being able to offer a true multi-orbit strategy is critical for our customers.

Enhancing Mission Assurance with Strategic Relationships and Agnostic Integration
The two main impacts of multi-orbit capabilities are high availability and greater security. By having multi-path, multi-orbit, and multi-frequency offerings, we achieve resiliency through redundancy. SES Space & Defense enhances security by keeping traffic off the public internet. Instead, it routes through our private network, where we can maintain stricter control over security. Having multi-orbit solutions also enables us to seamlessly provide continuous, high-availability solutions when experiencing a significant failure. The traffic is automatically rerouted through our software-defined network, and the customer is completely unaware of any outage, reducing the risk of a single point of failure. Simultaneously, our technicians can work on any outage in the background while the customer maintains connectivity.

For example, we have a customer that requires high availability, which we have traditionally provided through a mixture of our GEO networks and terrestrial connectivity. Around three years ago, through one of our partnerships with a LEO provider, we began integrating LEO into that customer equation. Recently, there was a failure on one of the LEO orbits, which was the primary means for the customer to communicate. As soon as we experienced that failure, our GEO capacity picked up the slack immediately, and the customer maintained uninterrupted service.

As for the enhanced security these partnerships provide, one example is a high-profile customer that operates multi-orbit networks as part of a Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (PACE) plan. We take their traffic from a LEO provider before it hits the public Internet and put our security wrapper around it through our terrestrial network. From there, it is delivered to the customer’s home base, resulting in a higher level of assured security that accompanies high availability.

Interoperability Challenges Between Providers
One critical component of agnostic integration is the interoperability between multiple providers. Achieving this on the satellite side is admittedly not overly difficult, though there are critical components of the process that must be selected and managed meticulously to enable successful integration. This includes selecting the right appliances and software that are built to standards that can be properly integrated.

Some operators have proprietary modem systems and they may operate at differing levels of security. But, if we can intercept the traffic at a point where we can integrate it with the incoming traffic from the other networks, it is not overly complicated. It can be done, and it’s been proven. At SES Space & Defense, we’re doing it efficiently and successfully applying it in real applications.

Though the satellite process is relatively easy, there is a slight challenge on the ground side. Industry has not yet perfected a single solution antenna with multiple, software-defined waveforms on a terminal that can go from orbit to orbit or satellite constellation to satellite constellation. Some manufacturers are close to achieving this technology but a significant challenge remains in scaling down the required equipment to enable multi-orbit operations across multiple fleets effectively.

In many cases, you must have a proprietary system or a system that’s designed for a specific waveform on a specific satellite, and that’s the biggest challenge. Industry is catching up and some companies are currently working on multi-orbit, single-terminal products that would scale down the equipment needed for the operation. But, overall, the ground side of the industry is not quite there yet.

Agnostic Integration Influencing DoD Procurement
One big question about agnostic integration is how it will affect procurement strategies and partnerships between the DoD and industry. Everyone wants multi-orbit, multi-frequency, high-availability, and resilient networks. However, without someone to integrate the solution, contracting officers often need to issue multiple contracts for the various components required to build a fully integrated network. That equates to additional time, additional money, and different management across the different platforms that need to be integrated. On top of that, the government will have to do more work to integrate it themselves.

From a procurement perspective, the government is increasingly recognizing that industry can take on the integration process, serving as a one-stop solution. Much of the government’s recent approach reflects this shift, as they seek industry-led solutions and integration. Given the advantages in time, cost, and technology, industry is often better positioned to handle this than the government itself.