The Internet connection can be shared with other users via wireless or wired network. Most soldiers deploy with a laptop in hand and a hookup to the Internet in their barracks. This is especially important for the many who are married, and have young children. The Internet access has resulted in major morale improvements. Troops no longer feel cut off from home.

Not all the Internet connectivity is just for staying in touch with the folks back home. The troops in Afghanistan use the Internet a lot for professional tasks, and not all of them are official business. Some troops blog, and many other stay in touch with military friends and associates in other parts of the world. The Internet has made possible many online communities composed of military professionals.

Without the new satellite system, large numbers of Soldiers will be without regular communications for much or most of their time in Afghanistan. The infrastructure is Spartan to non-existent.

More about the satellite service on http://www.ts2.pl/en/Internet-in-Iraq-and-Afghanistan

Supported locations in Afghanistan

 Airfields

Bagram Air base 
Chagcharan 
Chapman Airfield 
Bamian / Bamiyan 
Fayzabad / Faizabad 
Herat 
Jalalabad 
Kabul International 
Kandahar / Qandahar 
Khowst 
Mazar-e Sharif, AF 
Meymanah / Maimana 
Pul-i-Kandahar, AF 
Rhino FOB 
Shindand Air base 
Taloqan / Talulqan 

COP’s

COP Baylough
COP Curry
COP JDCC
COP Jelawur
COP Keating
COP Michigan
COP Rath
COP Sangar
COP Sweeney
COP Terminator
COP Warheit

Camps

Camp Albert
Camp Bagram
Camp Barber
Camp Black Horse
Camp Blackjack
Camp Bastion
Camp Bulldog
Camp Civilian
Camp Clark
Camp Cunningham
Camp Delaram 
Camp Dogan
Camp Dwyer / Camp Dywer 
Camp Eggers
Camp Gecko
Camp Gibraltar
Camp Hadrian
Camp Holland
Camp Harriman
Kamp Holland
Camp Invicta
Camp Julien
Camp Kabul
Camp Kandahar
Camp Kearney
Camp Lightning
Camp Leatherneck
Camp Marmal
Camp Morehead
Camp Moorhead
Camp Nathan Smith
Camp Phoenix
Camp Rhino
Camp Salerno
Camp Signal Strike
Camp Souter
Camp Spann
Camp Stone
Camp Tombstone
Camp Vianini
Camp Warehouse
Camp Wilson
Camp Wright
Camp Victory

FOB’s

FOB ABAD
FOB Almasak
FOB Andar
FOB Airborne
FOB Altimur
FOB Anaconda
FOB Apache
FOB Armadillo
FOB Asadabad
FOB Azizullah
FOB Bakwa
FOB Bakwah
FOB Bala Murgha
FOB Bala Murghab
FOB Bermel
FOB Blackhawk
FOB Blackhorse
FOB Blessing
FOB Bostick
FOB Boris
FOB Bullard
FOB Clark
FOB Cobra
FOB Connolly
FOB Chapman
FOB Davis
FOB Delaram
FOB Delhi
FOB Dehli
FOB Dwyer
FOB Edinburgh
FOB Farah
FOB Fenty
FOB Finley-Shields
FOB Freia
FOB Frontenac
FOB Gamberi
FOB Gardez
FOB Gereshk
FOB Geronimo
FOB Ghazni
FOB Ghowrmach
FOB Gibraltar
FOB Howz-e Madad
FOB Hunter
FOB Hutal
FOB Indianhead
FOB Inkerman
FOB Jackson
FOB Jaker
FOB Joyce
FOB Keating
FOB Kalagush
FOB Keenan
FOB Kunduz
FOB Kushamond
FOB Lane
FOB Leatherneck
FOB Lightning
FOB Lindsey
FOB Logar
FOB Lagman
FOB Lion
FOB Lonestar
FOB Lwara
FOB Masum
FOB Ma’sum Ghar
FOB Martello
FOB Maimaneh
FOB Ma’sum Ghar
FOB Mehtar Lam
FOB Mizan
FOB Nathan Smith
FOB Naray
FOB Nolay
FOB Orgun-e
FOB Pasab
FOB Payne
FOB Price
FOB Puza-i-Eshan
FOB Qalat
FOB Ramrod
FOB Rhino
FOB Ripley
FOB Robinson
FOB Rushmore
FOB Salerno
FOB Sandford
FOB Scorpion
FOB Shank
FOB Sharana
FOB Shindand
FOB Stone
FOB Sperwan Ghar
FOB Smart
FOB Spin Boldak
FOB Sweeney
FOB Tillman
FOB Terrett
FOB Thunder
FOB Tiger
FOB Todd
FOB Tombstone
FOB Tora
FOB Tycz
FOB Walton
FOB Warrior
FOB Waza Khwa
FOB Wilson
FOB Wishtan
FOB Wolf
FOB Wolverine
FOB Wright
FOB Vulcan
FOB Zeebrugge
FOB Zormot
FOB Zormat

Fire Bases

Fire Base Anaconda
Fire Base Asadabad
Fire Base California
Fire Base Cobra Strike
Fire Base Cobra
Fire Base Gardez
Fire Base Lagman
Fire Base Maholic
Fire Base Nixon
Fire Base Orgun-E
Fire Base Oulet
Fire Base Phoenix
Fire Base Shkin
Fire Base Waza Khwa
Fire Base Wilderness

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)

PRT Asadabad – ISAF US 
PRT Baglan – ISAF 
PRT Bagram – ISAF US 
PRT Bamian (Bamyan) ISAF NZ 
PRT Chaghcharan – ISAF Lithuania 
PRT Farah – ISAF US 
PRT Feyzabad – ISAF Germany 
PRT Gardez – ISAF US 
PRT Ghazni – ISAFUS 
PRT Herat – ISAF Italy 
PRT Jalalabad – ISAF US 
PRT Kabul
PRT Khandahar – ISAF Canada 
PRT Khowst / Khost – ISAF US 
PRT Konduz – ISAF Germany 
PRT Lashkar-Gah – ISAF UK 
PRT Mazar-E-Sharif – ISAF Sweden 
PRT Mehtar Lam – ISAF US 
PRT Meymaneh – ISAF Norway 
PRT Nurestan – ISAF US 
PRT Parwan – ROK/US 
PRT Panjshir – ISAF US 
PRT Pol-E-Khomri – ISAF Netherlands 
PRT Qalat – ISAF US 
PRT Qala-e-Naw – ISAF Spain 
PRT Sharana – ISAF US 
PRT Tarin Kowt – ISAF Netherlands/Australia 
PRT Wardak – ISAF Turkey 

Other

Combat Outpost Herrera 
Combat Outpost Keating 
Combat Outpost Margah 
PB Jaker 
PB Rahim 

“We’d like to thank the panel of experts for recognizing the true potential of our new satellite architecture to transform the performance of satellite communications and lift our industry to a more competitive position in telecommunications,” said Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO of ViaSat. “I’d also like to congratulate our CTO Mark Miller, the chief architect of the system, and all the ViaSat employees who’ve contributed to its development.”

The winners were announced on June 15 at TechAmerica Foundation’s ninth annual Technology and Government Dinner, which gathered hundreds of industry, congressional, and government leaders to celebrate the partnership between industry and government.

“We had a lot of nominations for these prestigious awards, and we congratulate ViaSat for its winning achievement, as it continues to influence technology development throughout the world,” said Senator Bob Bennett, chairman for TechAmerica Foundation.

The American Technology Awards were presented for each of following segments of the technology industry: Aerospace and Defense; Clean Tech/Green Tech/Smart Grid; Cloud Computing/Software as a Service; Computers and Peripherals; Consumer Electronics; Cyber Security and Authentication; Electronic Components; Internet Services; Measurement and Control Instruments; Medical Devices; Server & Storage Technology; Software; Technology Consulting; Technology Services; and Telecommunications. Additional award categories include: Breakthrough Technology; Corporate Leadership; and Government Technology Executive of the Year.

For more information, please visit www.techamericafoundation.org/thetermans.

Source: ViaSat

Even without firing a shot, Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco said, the People’s Republic of China can cripple the country as it does not only depend on China’s consumer goods but also on security-laden services, including the Philippines’ telecommunications system.

Haresco called on the government to start looking for options with the seeming security threats in the use of Agila 2, the country’s lone communications satellite.

More > http://www.journal.com.ph

Satellite phone services will be used in conditions where traditional communication is difficult or impossible, for example due to a lack of adequate infrastructure on the ground. This is particularly important during GPB officials’ foreign missions. They can now use encrypted communications and data transmission systems, which operate independently of local telecommunications infrastructure. Furthermore, satellite communications systems increase the level of security, which is particularly significant in areas of military action and wherever an immediate response is vital.

The Government Protection Bureau (GPB) like other services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration (Police, State Fire Department, Border Guard) whose task it is to uphold the law, protect the life and health of citizens and to protect the government and state administration are under the supervision of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration. The Government Protection Bureau is a uniformed and armed service carrying out tasks in the field of protection of persons and state installations.

The Iridium satellite network is one of the most reliable telecommunications systems, accessible from virtually anywhere in the world. Currently the Iridium constellation consists of sixty-six active satellites and a few spare units. This network’s satellites orbit at an altitude of around 780km and an inclination of 86.4 degrees. These orbital parameters, combined with a high number of coordinated satellites allow constant access to telecommunications services from anywhere on Earth.

TS2 Satellite Technologies provides global telecommunications services within international satellite networks. The company offers all possibilities of using communications satellites to send data, make phone calls and access the Internet. TS2 allows you to make a phone call from anywhere in the world, together with the appropriate data encryption.

Additional information

Information on the choice of the best bid in the proceedings for awarding a Public Contract from 30.03.2011 Case number: 10/2011/ZP

TS2 Satellite Technologies

The Polish Government Protection Bureau (GPB)

“Satellite is often the only game in town when vast terrestrial networks are down. Our satellites are well positioned to provide redundancy and reliability to Spacenet and its customers across North America”
As part of the agreement, SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES is providing Spacenet with expanded capacity on its AMC-4, AMC-5 and AMC-6 satellites, enabling Spacenet to offer reliable anywhere, anytime connectivity to businesses, governments and law enforcement agencies in the event of catastrophic storms, network glitches, and other unforeseen outages. The Missouri Department of Transportation’s satellite-based continuity solution, winner of the 2009 Innovation and Technology Award at the International Satellite and Communications Exchange (ISCe) Conference, is one of a growing number of emergency networks delivered by Spacenet and SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES.

“Natural and network disasters know no boundaries, so we have enlisted SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES and three of the best-located satellites over North America to help us keep our business, government and public safety customers connected no matter what comes along,” said Glenn Katz, Spacenet’s President and Chief Operating Officer, noting the federal government’s stimulus bill is driving business in support of rural underserved markets and public safety initiatives. “We’re implementing our fixed and mobile VSAT networks and leveraging SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES’ always on connection in virtually every region of the country at the consumer and public safety level,” Katz added.

“Insurance companies, banks, grocery chains, transportation and crisis management personnel, and law enforcement officials are among the mission-critical providers that have built their emergency communications networks on the Spacenet and SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES platforms,” said Andrew Ruszkowski, Vice President of North America Enterprise Solutions for SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES. “Satellite is often the only game in town when vast terrestrial networks are down. Our satellites are well positioned to provide redundancy and reliability to Spacenet and its customers across North America,” Ruszkowski explained.

Like the Missouri DOT, corporations and organizations of all kinds are joining the Spacenet solution on the SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES platform, which integrates terrestrial communications assets with satellite connectivity to keep operations running when primary networks are affected. The Missouri DOT solution is based on fixed and transportable satellite systems and supports full voice over IP (VoIP), Radio over IP, and Internet access. Seamless transmission and control capabilities enable the satellite system to interconnect with remote tower sites and legacy systems.

“Until this service, there was no way for vessels to access mobile telecom and Internet coverage globally and automatically unless they utilized satellite phone service, which is charged on a usage basis and is very expensive,” notes Jaime Munera, Director of Product Development for NewCom International. “With the Mini-VSAT Broadband Service, we can offer high-speed mobile Internet access anywhere in the world for an economical, flat-rate price. We can also offer add-on telephone and fax services for a complete communications solution.”

Unlike standard 1.2 meter VSAT systems, the Mini-VSAT Broadband Service requires only a small 24-inch TracPhone VY antenna – a big advantage for smaller vessels confined by weight constraints. The turnkey marine telecom package also includes a port that facilitates easy hook up to a fax machine or telephone, providing all the conveniences of a home office or business center on the high seas.

NewCom, which provides communications solutions to government and military entities around the world, expands KVH’s market reach to this vital sector.

“We are one of the few resellers that service the commercial mobile market for KVH,” notes Munera. “We are also the only reseller that has a NOC for Latin America, which is crucial for KVH because it gives them an entry way into the Latin America market.”

TS 2 specializes in providing global satellite access services. They core business is broadband access to the Internet in areas with poor telecommunications infrastructure and mobile satellite phones communication. The main medium of used transmission is a two-way satellite transfer system, which provides good access to the satellite network in even the least accessible areas. It not only provides a broadband connection but also a wide range of additional data and voice services.

TS2’s satellite networks are available in Al Taqaddum Air Base, Bagram AF, Balad Base, Baquba Airfield, Brassfield-Mora, Cob Adder, Cob Speicher, Camp Al Asad Airbase, Camp Bucca Basra City, Camp Buehring, Camp Charlie Basra, Camp Eggers, Camp Fallujah, Camp Grizzly, Camp Korean Village, Camp Liberty, Camp Mejid, Camp Ramadi, Camp Slayer, Camp Stryker, Camp Taji, Camp Victory, Fob Bagram, Fob Brassfield Mora, Fob Delta Al Kut, Fob Diamondback, Fob Falcon, Fob Garryowen, Fob Gardez, Fob Ghazni, Fob Kalagush, Fob Kandahar, Fob Lagman, Fob Mchenry, Fob Marez, Fob Normandy, Fob Rustamiyah, Fob Summerall, Fob Sykes, Fob Salerno, Fob Torkham, Fob Warhorse, Fob Warrior, Herat RTC, Jallaabad Air Base, Kabul Airport, Kabul Camp Eggers, Kandahar Air Base, Lsa Anaconda Balad, Sather Air Base, Q-West Base Complex and Tallil Ab Lsa Adder. [2]

TS2 delivers telecommunication services also for Police Transition Teams in following locations: West Ramadi, Warrar, Tal-Aswad, Saqlawiyah / Saqlawiah, Rutbah, Rumanah, Ramadi District HQ, Qatanna, Mulaab, Kubaisa, Khaladiah, Karmah, Jazeera, Hit, Haqlaniyah, Hamdiyah, Habbaniyah, Forsan, Ferris, East Ramadi, Barwannah, Anah, Ameriayah and Al Qaim. [3]

Military customers in Iraq and Afghanistan

Before end of 2007 year, the TS 2 solutions have been implemented for e.g. US Marine Corps (USMC), US Army Corps of Engineers, Australian Defence Force (ADF), Command of Polish Navy, Special Military Formation GROM, 1st Special Commando Regiment, Polish National Police, Polish National Headquarters of the State Fire Services, Border Guard (Poland), World Bank Group, Lockheed Martin Information Technology, Halliburton Energy Services, KBR, General Dynamics Information Technology, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, US Naval Research Laboratory, ITT Corporation Aerospace / Communications Division, Technest Holdings / EOIR Technologies, North Eastern Aeronautical Company (Neany), EchoStorm Worldwide, Jorge Scientific Corporation, Erinys International, Aegis Iraq, American Heart of Poland and more others.

TS2′s military services are used by soldiers from 1 BCT 101 ABN DIV, 1-151 CAV HHT, 1-161st FA A-BTRY, 1-206 Field Artillery Battalion, 1-25 SBCT, 1-5 INF B Co, 1-61 CAV SQDN, 1-76 FA, 1/402nd AFSB STRYKER LNO, 1038th HCC, 10TH MTN DIV, 1710 Transpotation company, 184th Ordnance Battalion, 189 CSSB, 18th EN BDE, 1AD 2BCT / TF 1-35 AR, 1AD STB/Datapath, 1BCT, 1STB 1BCT 4ID, 1st BCT 101st Airborne Div., 1st Intel Bn P&A Co AFP, 1st PLT C Co 3-21 IN, 1st Space BDE / MNC-I, 2 BCT 1ID JSS H2, 2/25 DET 1 WPNS CO MAP 3, 2/25 Det 1 H&S Comm Plt, 201st Engineer Bn., 215th ASMC Phipps Clinic, 259 CSSB 155 ICTC, 25th Signal BN, 269 TH MP CO, 269th MP CO, 27th BCT, 3/10 MPCO, 3/4 WPNS CAAT-2, 324 NSC, 330th Military Police Detachment, 345th MI BN, 351st MP CO, 368th Finance DET 4, 370th En Co 54th En Bn, 3ACR, 3D RADIO BN, 401st AFSB MRAP, 41st Fires BDE, 455 EOG/ Spawar/ ATM, 4ID, 4SB 1BCT 4ID, 4th BAT. 101st AB, 4th BCT, 504th MP BN, 527th MP CO, 527th Military Police Company, 542nd SMC, 55th EN CO, 561 MT company, 589th BSB, 58th mp co 1st plt, 5th ANGLICO HQ Det/1st BDE, 5th EN BN, 5th Eng Bn, 6-17 CAV 1-1 ARB, 715th MP CO, 752nd OD CO, 772 Military Police Company, 776 Maintenance Co., 812th MP CO, 836th Engineer Company Sapper, 84th EN BN 643 EN CO, 84th Eng Bn 643rd En Bn, 87th Eng Co, 926th EN BDE, 937th Engineer Company, 97th Trans Det 3, A 2-20 FA, A CO 1-5 IN REGT, A TRP 1-152 CAV, A co. 4SB, A-4/320th, A-BRTY 2-44 ADA, A-CO 1-21 INF, A/2-211 AVIATION, A/CO 1/21, ACO TF 1/35 AR, ALPHA TROOP 1-152, Aco 1-153 INF, Alpha Company, B 4-320th FA, B Btry 3-4 AMD Battalion, B CO Task Force Odin, B CO. Bldg 3455/CH, B Co 1-6 IN, B Co 2-112th, B Co 2-4 GSAB, B Co. Bldg 3455 / CH, B Co. Bldg 3510 / CH, B Company 1-18 Infantry, B co 1-35AR, B co 2-6 IN, B co 563D ASB, B co. 404 ASB CAB 4ID, Bco 1-184 IN L, Bco 1-21, Bco. 2-4 GSAB CAB 4ID, Bco.404 ASB, Bravo Co. 1-184th, Bravo co. 3-159 ARB, C 1/158 fa bn, C BTRY 2-5 FA, C Btry 2-8 FA 1/25 SBCT, C Co 1-12 CAV 1CD, C Co 1-24 IN, C Co. 1/168th GSAB, C Co. 4-4 ARB, C co. 4-4 ARB CAB 4ID, C trp 1-303d Cav 81st hbct, C-Btry 1/158 FA, C/Trp 6-17 CAV, CAB 4ID, CAB 4th ID, CAFFT TAJI, CAV. 2nd PLATOON, CJTF-101 CJ3 Biometrics, CSTC-A CJ6 CSC, Co. B 146 ESB, D Co 2-27 IN/ 3rd PLT, D Co. 2-327 Inf., D. Co. 1/114th INF, D/123 AVN 6-17 CAV, Delta Company 1-151, Delta Company 1-151 Warlords, Delta Troop 7-17 CAV, E CO 3-1 AVN REGT, E Co. 1-161IN, E. CO 1-66 AR, E/FSC 1-22IN 1BCT 4ID, EOD Company 1/3, F Co. 2-10 AVN, GLS/L-3/Titan, HHB 1/6 FA, HHB 2-20 FA BN, HHC 1-24 IN, HHC 1-87 INF, HHC 2-7 CAV 4 BCT 1 CD, HHC 2/327 INF Olsen Medics, HHC 25th STB 25ID G2, HHC 3-103 AR, HHC 3/2 SCR LST, HHC 51st Signal Battalion, HHC 56 SBCT, HHC 5th Engineer Battalion, HHC 710 BSB 3BCT, HHC 783rd MP BN, HHC 84th Engineers Battalion, HHC 949 BSB, HHC BTB, HQs/ 561st MP Company, HSC 834TH ASB, JCCS-1, JTF Paladin / COIC, KAF NSE Force Protection 1 Platoon, KAIA ISAF Kabul Afghanistan, KBR B4 Services, KBR/LSI C7A McHenry, L-3 Communications Iraq, L3 Vertex Aerospace Iraq, L3/GSI, NSWLOGDET TQ US NAVY, PM BIOMETRICS FWD/BAT, TF 5-09 Canadian Forces, TF Centaur, TF Fighting, TF Phoenix, Task Force 1-6 S6, Task Force ODIN, Task Force Wings and USAF FET in FOB Salerno. [5]

TS2 will provide satellite services for the Marines new bases in Afghanistan in first months of 2009 year. The government contract concerns establishing and maintaining full communication in new locations for two years for all soldiers stationed there. The USA are going to transfer 4.5 thousand Marines from Iraq to Afghanistan as early as at the beginning of 2009.