Cobham Satcom to roll out O3b mPOWER transportable terminals for SES

March 14, 2023

Cobham Satcom and SES have engaged in a contract for a range of O3b mPOWER-enabled, Communications-on-the Pause (COTP) terminals.

The contract consists of Cobham Satcom’s rugged, man-portable, LEO/MEO/GEO capable, TACTICAL TRACKER terminal series that range in size from 1.35 to 2.64 meters as well as the successful EXPLORER 8120 vehicle mount tracking antenna.

The TACTICAL TRACKER Terminal serves the Government and Defense segment, while Government agencies, carriers, and enterprise customers use the EXPLORER terminals for service augmentation and restoration.

The active tracking TACTICAL TRACKER terminals will enable seamless connectivity across SES’s multi-orbit network of Geostationary (GEO) and MEO satellites, with forward compatibility on SES’s new MEO system O3b mPOWER, as well as SES’s second-generation, high-throughput, low-latency constellation.

Cobham Satcom’s TACTICAL TRACKER terminals are easily converted between Ku- and Ka-band and offer multi-band, multi-orbit, COTP capabilities. The antennas are transported in rugged man cases and can be set up and operational within 30 minutes. Additionally, the terminals can be operated in a dual antenna make-before-break configuration, with a rapid retrace capability enabling a single antenna operation while preserving link security.

The O3b mPOWER system represents a tremendous step forward in communication satellite capabilities, providing unprecedented flexibility and throughput. The new terminals expand Cobham Satcom’s O3b mPOWER terminal portfolio, joining the recently certified Sea Tel 2400 Tri-band terminal for the energy market.

The EXPLORER 8120 is a rugged, field-proven, 1.2 m tracking antenna, available in Ku and Ka-band versions, and easily adapts to a range of vehicles and platforms. The antenna can be used in single or multi-antenna configurations, with rapid deployment and acquisition within minutes.

“We are pleased to provide new capabilities to SES for the growing COTP segment and to offer proven defense and enterprise solutions,” said Kirby Nell, VP of Business Development at Cobham Satcom. “The TACTICAL TRACKERs are the first, man-portable, multi-orbit terminals that actively track across GEO, LEO, and MEO systems, providing mission-critical connectivity to government customers. In addition, the adaptation of the well-proven EXPLORER 8120 also meets the needs of some of the largest telco carriers.”

Filed Under: Antennas, Business Moves, Cobham Satcom, Constellation, Contracts, COTP, Defense, Enterprise, Government, LEO / MEO / GEO, News, O3b mPOWER, SES, Vehicle Mount Antenna System