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Technology Stocks : Loral Space & Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jeff Vayda who wrote (9920)	3/11/2002 8:45:04 AM
From: Jeff Vayda	Respond to of 10852

Broad article in scope but Bernie has identified this space as a plus for Loral. (Building the Spain 'govt' services bird) Jeff Vayda As bandwidth demands continue to rise . . . CINCS: FORWARD-DEPLOYED COMMUNICATIONS NEED URGENT IMPROVEMENT http://abcdefg986:mdd@www.insidedefense.com/secure/def_dsplyC-R_txt.asp?r=24120&T=C&S=electronics Date: March 8, 2002 - The communications infrastructures that three regional combatant commanders rely upon are in need of significant upgrades in order to meet operational requirements, the CINCS told the Senate Armed Services Committee this week. Adm. Dennis Blair, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, Army Gen. Thomas Schwartz, U.S. Forces Korea commander, and Army Maj. Gen. Gary Speer, acting CINC for U.S. Southern Command, emphasized in their written testimony the importance of funding improvements for high-bandwidth, secure and interoperable communications. "As evidenced by the world's recent response to terrorist events, the need for information sharing between service, joint and coalition partners, as well as local, state and federal organizations has increased exponentially," Blair stated in his written testimony. "This requirement places a strain on an already antiquated and stressed communications network." In the Pacific theater, U.S. forces must rely primarily on satellites to communicate across oceans and within countries that have under-developed communications infrastructures, Blair testified. Limited ultra high frequency satellite capacity in the theater "is fast becoming a factor in my ability to command and control forces," he told the committee. In addition to the space segment, the land-based infrastructure used for communications at forward operating locations are in need of significant upgrades, Blair testified. "In the Pacific theater, we still operate on cables and wiring installed as far back as the 1960s. These cables are no longer dependable," he stated. Speer cited similar communications problems for U.S. Southern Command, saying satellite communications, while critical because of underdeveloped regional infrastructure, currently "provide limited bandwidth." To remedy this problem, SOUTHCOM is "partnering with the Defense Information Systems Agency and the Department of State's Diplomatic Telecommunications Service Program Office to explore commercial alternatives such as fiber optic communication links," Speer testified. Over the next several years, DISA plans to put significantly more money into upgrading DOD's military communications infrastructure worldwide. The fiscal year 2003 DISA budget request includes $517 million in new funds for upgrades to the Global Information Grid, the name for the Defense Department's total information infrastructure (Defense Information and Electronics Report, Feb. 22, p1). The initiative will "bring high-speed bandwidth to key locations globally," a DISA spokeswoman said last month. Gen. Schwartz said U.S. Forces Korea have also had difficulty maintaining robust communications. "Taking full advantage of the emerging technologies has been a constant challenge for this command due to years of [command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] funding shortfalls," Schwartz informed the committee. He urged the senators to approve DOD's full request for $67 million in FY-03 spending on USFK communications upgrades. In their testimony, the CINCS stressed the importance of interoperability and information assurance as part of the necessary communications upgrades. In addition, Blair said that acquisition reforms were needed to improve coordination among joint forces, and to make sure that information systems meet warfighter needs. "I think that the turning cycle for information technology systems, which are the key to revolution in the near term, has got to be faster . . . and has to have a much higher component of joint requirements for the field, rather than the services developing their capabilities in the service channels and then providing them to joint forces for use," he said. -- Hampton Stephens