September 22, 2004—The National Guard has selected a joint satellite solution from SkyPort International and iDirect Technologies to provide an emergency communications network to National Guard teams designed to assist civilian agencies during crisis management events and terrorist threats. These teams, known as CERFP (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package), will support civilian first-responder teams around the country.
The satellite networks deployed to these teams will provide a high speed Internet Protocol (IP) network supporting secure voice, video, and broadband data in the event of loss or degradation of landline communication networks.
The National Guard contract calls for multiple fixed and/or mobile satellite links at 33 initial sites around the country. As backup to terrestrial communications, this satellite network will re-connect various agencies including the National Guard, City and State Emergency Management Agencies, and Federal DHS resources.
The complete deployed solution will utilize the SkyPort network, and iDirect’s Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology, to support enterprise-class connectivity for IP based services such as video, data, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), and Internet access. This VSAT network can provide data at speeds from 64 kbps to 4.2 Mbps from the remote site and up to 9 Mbps from the hub to the remotes.
The National Guard selected this system based on its ease of deployment and management; its quality of service supporting VoIP, video, and data; its ability to support multiple virtual LAN (VLAN) networks; and the fact that it offers the only FIPS 140-2 3DES certified satellite link encryption available today.
For more information, visit SkyPort International.
