SES S.A. reports that SES Government Solutions (SES GS), a wholly owned subsidiary of SES, was recently awarded a contract to provide an O3b Networks high throughput, low latency satellite communications solution for a US Department of Defense end-user.

The O3b-enabled solution includes a satellite beam operating at less than 200 milliseconds per roundtrip, and will consist of a full duplex, symmetric 155 Mbps link, gateway access, a transportable 2.4m AvL terminal, terrestrial backhaul, installation services and 24/7/365 operations and maintenance activities. The contract also enables the US Government to order additional O3b services to meet surge requirements.

Operational benefits of the solution include the capability to transfer large files from remote locations in just minutes instead of hours. Cloud-based applications and information can be used nearly anywhere in the service area. End-users will be able to view simultaneous high definition (HD) videos providing situational awareness to commanders. This kind of real-time information access may enable better-informed, life-saving decisions in the field.

"These are exciting times for the US Government as well as SES GS," said Pete Hoene, President and CEO of SES GS. "With SES's recent acquisition of O3b, SES GS is uniquely positioned to offer scalable, game-changing Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) high throughput, low latency and global Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) communications products and solutions. This is a clear differentiator for SES GS and our US Government customers."

This is SES GS's second US Government customer to use O3b Networks' services this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was the first US Government agency to sign an agreement with SES GS, that one being for an O3b high throughput solution at the Pago Pago National Weather Service Office in American Samoa. This service has been delivering critical information since May of 2016.