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Satnews Daily
May 21st, 2018

COTM and First Responder Comms to be Demo'd by Microsoft and Kymeta @ 2018 SOFIC


Kymeta and Microsoft have announced simultaneous land mobile, maritime defense and first responder demonstrations during the 2018 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) and Connectivity Expo (Connect X).

The companies will be jointly demonstrating end-to-end communications and network on the edge with Microsoft’s patrol and tactical vehicles featuring cutting-edge hardware, software, Windows Apportals, Azure Cloud integration, and connectivity to the Internet of Things (IoT), all connected using a flat-panel, satellite Kymeta™ KyWay™ Terminal (KyWay Terminal).

Microsoft built two vehicles designed for demonstration purposes including a Chevrolet Suburban Tactical Vehicle (at SOFIC) and a Chevrolet Tahoe Advanced Patrol Vehicle (at Connect X). Both vehicles feature a Kymeta KyWay Terminal for always-on connectivity.

Scott Montgomery, Senior Industry Solution Manager, Microsoft, said that the company’s Azure cloud-based services can be locally replicated in a deployed environment such as a patrol vehicle, firehouse or command post and can significantly enhance the capabilities of first responders and defense users, especially when using drones, robots, and IoT devices. Combined with Microsoft Artificial Intelligence tools, this forms the intelligent edge, enabled by Microsoft and Kymeta. This is a huge leap forward provided by the combined Microsoft-Kymeta solution, using Kymeta’s advanced flat-panel satellite antenna technology to enable reliable mobile communications, in a way that has never been done before.

David Kervin, GM and SVP Kymeta Solutions, reported that the company is providing a dependable, flexible, on-the-move satellite connectivity solution that defense and first responder organizations can rely on. The firm's ability to move communications, video, audio, and other sensor data to the Azure cloud, via Kymeta satellite terminals, provides an always-connected experience, regardless of how remote the location, or how congested or unavailable a terrestrial cellular network may become. This represents a significant advancement in operational tactics, situational awareness and command and control, enabled by Kymeta’s revolutionary KyWay satellite terminal and Microsoft Azure at the edge.

Kymeta SATCOM solutions will be on display at 2018 SOFIC – Tampa Convention Center – Tampa, Florida – May 21-24.