DISA looks ahead to new global SATCOM approaches

Defense officials are asking for insights on contemporary and future equipment and software developments related to global satellite communications.

In a new request for information, the Defense Information Systems Agency wants to know about commercially available ground infrastructures, elements of those infrastructures, and services for wideband communications via satellite and non-satellite platforms.

In the next few years, the Defense Department expects to fully deploy its purpose-built wideband solution known as the Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS) system. However, officials realize that satellites will need to be replenished within a decade after their deployment.

Officials are conducting an analysis of what might succeed WGS, including space, air and ground layer communication capabilities.

Network support is an area of interest because there are thousands of user terminals. There also are connections of 100 gigabits per second to customers across the world, satellite and non-satellite relay and switching platforms, interoperability concerns, and situational awareness regarding network resources.

In addition, DISA is interested in concepts that may diverge from DOD’s historical approaches to wideband communications.

DISA released its RFI April 24. Responses are due by May 24.