XTAR and Arrowhead Global Solutions have announced the signing of a master service agreement that will allow Arrowhead to market and lease X-band capacity on XTAR's XTAR-EUR or XTAR-LANT satellites to a wide range of U.S. and allied government agencies. XTAR is a joint venture between Loral Space and Communications and HISDESAT.
"Our agreement with Arrowhead further expands XTAR's network of valuable sales channels to reach a multitude of agencies within the US and other allied governments," said Denis Curtin, chief operating officer, XTAR, LLC. "Using existing Arrowhead contract vehicles, government customers can now procure X-band capacity to extend their current satellite communications capabilities."
Government customers can acquire X-band capacity for use with existing infrastructure, or for customized solutions using a combination of resources that includes X-band. With both fixed and steerable beams, XTAR-EUR and XTAR-LANT cover a wide geographic area from Denver, across the Atlantic, Europe and the Middle East to as far as Singapore.
"Arrowhead consistently strives to package strong service offerings for use by the agencies of the U.S. and other allied governments and, together with XTAR, we are now able to provide a unique, and highly desirable X-band component to our array of services," said Mary Ann Elliott, chairwoman and chief executive officer, Arrowhead Global Solutions, Inc.
"Commercially available X-band is a significant step forward in satisfying the ever-growing demand for bandwidth by the U.S. and other allied governments and we are pleased to be working together with XTAR to offer this unique service."
Arrowhead provides turn key end-to-end networks that include the design, installation, implementation, operations and maintenance (OandM) and positive monitoring of XTAR space segment through a secure Network Operations Center providing U.S. Government end users with assured classified messaging.
By leveraging the thin-client capability of Arrowhead's NYTOR information technology products, customers can operate securely from anywhere on the globe.
XTAR-EUR and XTAR-LANT feature traditional global beams as well as on-board switching and multiple steerable beams, allowing users access to X-band capacity as they travel anywhere within the footprint of the satellite. They are designed to work with existing X-band terminals, as well as next generation X-band terminals that feature antennas smaller than 2.4 meters.
Using current U.S. military legacy equipment, XTAR-EUR has consistently shown data rates that far eclipse current military X-band systems. With minor antenna and terminal modifications, XTAR has achieved data rates in excess of 100 Mbps using both left and right hand polarizations.
