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US military personnel in the Middle East are able to operate mission critical communications through the use of satellite technology. Interestingly, the personnel on the ground get the powerful satellite communications not from the US, but from Australia. But why so? Why not in Europe, or in Japan, or even in the Middle East itself? The reason why defence organizations working in areas of conflict in the Middle East turn to Australia for satellite communications services is because of the many advantages of the location. These communications services are provided by what we call teleports or satellite ground stations. These ground facilities uplink to the many geostationary satellites in orbit and transmit signals they receive across the globe - to VSAT ports installed in ships, or satellite TV in residential areas. But they are also crucial to delivering secure communications to the military personnel in war-torn regions. In Afghanistan, the satellite communications used by troops and other government personnel comes fro the state of South Australia. The region down under, first and foremost, offers an optimal look angle into the Middle East, and the teleport facilities located in the said state, has terrific uplink connections to C-Band and Ku-band satellites. SA also has a mild climate which is conducive for a technology which relies on good weather for its performance. Rain fade is the biggest issue plaguing satellite communications, and South Australia’s relatively mild temperatures and low-rainfall makes it an ideal location for ground facilities. The state also offers a remoteness which minimizes interference that would possibly affect a teleport’s performance, and enables it to connect to a larger range of satellites compared to other facilities in different parts of the globe. The location of the SA teleport provided visibility across the Pacific rim, up to Eastern Europe, as well as Africa. No major earthquakes hit South Australia too, ensuring the ground stations safety and security. This are important considerations for defence organizations which rely on satellite communications since most military missions are done in remote areas or regions where terrestrial infrastructure is prone to damage from ground conflicts and air strikes. Nearly 80% of the US Department of Defence’ satellite consumption comes from commercial operators. The South Australian teleport’s geographic location in a politically stable Allied nation has made it a crucial provider of mission critical communications to military personnel in Afghanistan, delivering stable communications for integrated use between military headquarters and camps. Experts say that as demand for satellite capacity surgers, more governments and even enterprise, will look down-under for their satellite communications needs.
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military, satellite communications, middle east,
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