Washington DC: TS2 Satellite Technologies’ network in Iraq and Afghanistan has over 15 thousand military users of local broadband satellite connections.
TS2 specializes in providing global satellite communication services in areas with poor telecommunications infrastructure. Its basic transmission medium is a two way transfer of data which provides not only the Internet access and transfer of information within the network but also voice communications. This type of services is very often used by defense industries, Special Forces and Army.
“We were among the first telecommunications operators in the satellite technology in the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan and as such we have enjoyed a successful cooperation with the US Army for several years now” – says Marcin Frackiewicz, CEO of the TS2 Satellite Technologies.
TS2 Satellite Technologies offer two-way high-speed internet access with no phone lines, no cable, no dial-up modem.
It’s always on, available virtually anywhere, and affordable. The laptop, or WLAN network, can receive internet signal through a special satellite VSAT modem which is usually set up in a building or tent when deployed.
To the soldiers stationed in the war-torn countries, one VSAT access point provides broadband access to the internet; telephone connections including voice over internet protocol (VoIP), IP phone and video-conference connections. In addition, soldiers can also transfer data to many other users simultaneously and share connections with others stationed in the same base.
The Internet access has resulted in major morale improvements. Troops no longer feel cut off from home. This is especially important for the many who are married, and have young children. In the past, the kids would, after an absence of six months to a year, meet a parent who seemed like a stranger.
A year is long time to a five year old. The Internet proved a major help for the spouse who stayed behind with the kids. There often lots of little details needed to run things at home, that only the deployed spouse knew. With email, you could get that information, or just some advice or encouragement, in hours.
The email often brought bad news as well. Now “Dear John” letters (where the girlfriend lets you know she’s no longer your girlfriend) arrive by email, or are sometimes preceded by digital photos from “a friend” showing you that the girlfriend is playing around. But the majority of troops leave the Internet Cafe feeling better than when they arrived.
Not all the Internet connectivity is just for staying in touch with the folks back home. The troops 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.
TS2’s satellite military networks are located 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.
TS2 communication among the bases is possible thanks to the simultaneous lease of bands on the Intelsat 10-02 and Intelsat 901 satellites whose coverage enables configuration of connections between any place in Europe, Middle East and Southwest Asia. TS2 additionally equips its customers with Thuraya and Iridium satellite telephones which are often the only means of communication in this region of the world.
