Intelsat General Communications LLC (IGC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat, has launched their FlexGround Communications-On-The-Move (COTM), a portable land-connectivity solution designed specifically to meet the advanced communications needs of today’s military, government and emergency responders, including border patrol agents and humanitarian aid workers.  

IGC’s FlexGround COTM solution offers expansive global broadband coverage and the ability to transmit high-definition, full-motion videos using compact, low-profile satellite antennas. FlexGround COTM leverages the strength of the Intelsat Epic high-throughput satellite fleet to deliver high-speed broadband mobile connectivity for a host of applications, including converged voice, data and video.

Specifically, IGC’s FlexGround COTM manage service delivers:

• High-speed data transmission rates: with speeds up to 5x2 megabytes Maximum Information Rate (MIR), FlexGround COTM enables the transmission of high-definition, full-motion video using small antennas – all while users are on the move;
• Compact, easy-to-use hardware: small terminals and low-profile antennas are designed for easy use by non-technical operators;
• Affordable, flexible pay plans: with gigabyte and shared plans, plus a flexible, pay-as-you go model, FlexGround COTM is ideal for both occasional first-responder missions and around-the-clock military operations;
• Global coverage: the managed service leverages Intelsat’s integrated global satellite and terrestrial network, which covers 99 percent of the world’s populated areas, and it is comprised of more than 50 satellites worldwide, including the only global high-throughput Ku-band satellite fleet in operation; and
• Secure, reliable communications: anti-jamming capabilities, combined with multiple layers of resiliency, ensure secure communications and seamless connectivity.

Skot Butler, President of Intelsat General Communications, said ground forces and emergency responders often work in remote areas far from any communications infrastructure, or where that infrastructure has been destroyed. Intelsat General customers have told us they need a more advanced and affordable solution, one that goes beyond the capabilities of the push-to-talk radios and low-bandwidth satellite communications currently on the marke. FlexGround COTM meets this need, enabling military personnel and first responders to securely, reliably and easily access and share information while in a moving vehicle.

FlexGround COTM is the third product in the FlexGround managed services platform, which also includes FlexGround Communications-On-The-Pause (COTP) and FlexGround Manpack. To learn more about the entire FlexGround platform, visit www.intelsatgeneral.com/flexground/.

In related news, IGC recently entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for Satellite Communications Terminals, Technologies and Constellations Interoperability with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center (C5ISR).

The Agreement establishes a cooperative effort to assess and develop Intelsat General’s technology and services as a solution for the Army’s mission and efforts to progress satellite communications (SATCOM) systems capabilities. The CRADA between the C5ISR Center and IGC will also help to establish a working environment to conduct tests, demonstrations, experiments and exploratory information exchanges.

Intelsat General’s FlexGround service aligns closely with the Army’s Tactical Network Modernization focus for Capability Set 2023. FlexGround offers highly portable broadband connectivity both on the pause and on the move, enabling ground force mobility, range extension, rapidly deployable command posts with smaller electronic and physical signatures, converged mission command and control, common operational picture technologies, improved cybersecurity, and anti-jam capabilities.

Skot Butler stated that the company's new ,FlexGround service, for example, is purposefully designed to keep tactical users in remote environments securely connected with the high data rates they require. No matter where in the world, rgw ultra-portability, high-throughput, flexible service plans, pay-as-you-go option, and global availability enable troops to quickly access the connectivity they need whenever and wherever they need it. IGC has taken the complexity out of SATCOM so that customers can focus on their core mission.