In an unpredictable, volatile environment – for example, a military operation or the aftermath of a natural disaster – access to reliable and secure communications is paramount. I have seen this first hand in the UK military, planning and delivering major operations at sea and ashore, supporting governments, military forces, security agencies and aid organisations, all while trying to maintain communications in some of the world’s most inhospitable locations.
During my military career, satellite communications were evolving. Satellite connectivity was available but scarce, prohibitively expensive, and only used in the most dire emergencies. Persistent or reliable connectivity was not expected.
In today’s world, things are different. Evolving technologies, increases in capacity, satellite availability and levels of expectation about being connected, has dramatically changed the communications landscape. Nowhere more-so than in the area of communications-on-the-move (COTM). Communications-on-the-move – powered by satellite technology – is changing fundamentally how military personnel and first responders stay connected.
So, what are the benefits of deploying COTM? And, as the technology continues to evolve, and demand increases, how can satellite providers keep up?
Mobility, dispersal and decentralisation
The key attribute of COTM is, by definition, allowing a user to be mobile. Unhindered and unencumbered by equipment or terrestrial infrastructure, COTM allows a user to move by land, sea or air, and have all their communications capability integrated with them.
In a humanitarian or natural disaster, one of the first rules of supporting organisations is to not be an additional burden. By being self-sufficient for power, communications, and infrastructure, COTM allows first responders to establish connectivity without impacting the local population. Importantly they can improve the situation by providing Wi-Fi hotspot bubbles of connectivity to support the local population, or other agencies, without having to install additional equipment.
In conflict situations, proliferation of surveillance drones and loitering munitions means it is no longer safe to establish stationary command posts. Instead, units need to disperse to avoid concentrations of force and keep moving. This mode drives a need for decentralised command on battlefields and for connectivity across large areas and across multiple dispersed teams, all of whom need to share information. This evolution is accelerating as advancements in military technology outpace conventional views of warfare. Advanced weaponry such as precision missile technology, surveillance and attack drones and enhanced intelligence gathering have transformed the military landscape and is forcing mobility to become a more critical military capability.
The significance of high data rates
We know COTM is a critical enabler, and it’s true than any COTM is better than no comms. However, as we get used to being connected at all times – in the air, on land or at sea – we also begin to push boundaries and see what more can be done with that connectivity. This search for ‘more’ means mobility is now only part of the solution. Users also now expect higher data rates to best leverage the increasingly complex technology being installed on their vehicles.
Modem COTM users expect live, high-definition video imagery transmissions, broadcast-quality video calls, AI and edge computing and connectivity to cloud services – wherever they are in the world. As platforms become increasingly complex and the range of sensors and intelligence gathering equipment fitted to them becomes more high-tech, the bandwidth required to share information becomes even more important.
This is particularly important in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, where ISR is used to deliver the ‘Observe’ element of the OODA loop [1]. The OODA loop model of ‘Observe, Orientate, Decide, Act’ shows that increasing the agility and the speed of decision making, in comparison to an opponent, can deliver success.
Using satellite connectivity, raw information and data can be live streamed from a platform directly to intelligence centres for processing and analysis. This means that forces can be dynamically retasked to conduct deeper surveillance or allow other forces to be brought to bear against time sensitive targets. By using satellites to speed up the OODA loop forces can gain information advantage over their opponents.
In other fast paced scenarios, particularly in a disaster relief or humanitarian situation where traditional terrestrial connectivity channels have been destroyed, disrupted or overwhelmed, equipping first responders with high-speed connectivity can make a tangible impact. Communities can access the internet for real-time updates and emergency responders can communicate with one another at speed, making decisions that are ultimately, life or death.
Ubiquitous connectivity
To deliver the greatest benefit from COTM, users need their connectivity to be ubiquitous – both in terms of satellite coverage and access. If the service is required to make life or death decisions, then users can’t afford to have failed connections.
Historically, satellites operated in geostationary orbit. As COTM evolved, satellite antennas allowed the satellite dish to move, mechanically, to always track the relevant GEO satellites. With the proliferation of satellites in other orbits, especially LEO, now it’s the satellites that are continuously moving, tracking across the horizon at speeds that are too fast for mechanical antenna to follow. This has led industry to develop electronically steerable antenna which have no moving parts and can track fast moving satellites instantly, even if the antenna itself is moving at speed.
The latest development is the ability to seamlessly switch and move between tracking GEO, MEO and LEO satellites. From an end user’s perspective this is nirvana – no longer do they have to think about what satellites they’re connecting to, instead they can automatically switch between satellite services.
This is important because the simple truth is no single satellite solution addresses everyone’s needs. In the military and first responder world, user demands are complex and changing, and it is in support of these users where we will see the greatest innovation and technological development in the short term.
With this in mind, many companies are forming partnerships and collaborations to adopt a multi-orbit approach, and in doing so, expand connectivity offerings, provide a wider range of solutions and greater coverage and ultimately, bring more value to the user, especially those in unpredictable environments.
Collaboration is the future – particularly to provide the best COTM service – this way companies can strengthen their connectivity offerings and provide a flexible and trusted option to those who need it most.
The future of COTM
The advent of COTM has brought about connected mobility, high data rates and latterly ubiquitous connectivity – features equally relevant to disaster relief and military operations. We see every day how this technology makes a difference to those operating in these challenging fields.
As connectivity demand evolves, we can expect the appetite for smarter technologies to continue to grow. For the satellite industry, this means increased pressure to offer reliable, uninterrupted and secure connectivity.
How satellite providers respond, whether through strategic partnerships or technology enhancements, will define which players stand out above the rest.
[1] The well-known operational model devised by US Air Force Colonel John Boyd.
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