BGAN Applications Expand to the Front Line
Written by Adam Baddeley
MIT 2009 Volume: 13 Issue: 10 (November)
No long a purely analog voice service, INMARSAT today offers mobile broadband voice and data over its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service. Powered by the next-generation I-4 satellites, INMARSAT provides voice, video and data on a global basis through a shared half-megabyte channel to mobile users worldwide.
With BGAN, government users—always a mainstay of INMARSAT’s corporate strategy since those early Navy adopters—have their requirements for secure, highly reliable communications met on land, at sea and in the air. BGAN supports voice, video and data services, as well as a full range of legacy and IP encryptors. This allows government users to extend and augment their own government networks and ensure mission critical communications, even for the most remote user.
BGAN’s revolutionary impact on the mobile satellite world is reflected in the ways that other companies are adopting BGAN as the basis for government-oriented communications solutions, all focused on meeting the needs of mobile and remote teams for simultaneous voice and broadband data through a single, highly compact device on a global basis.
That vision—and its potential benefits for military, intelligence and other uses around the world—is becoming more of a reality every day, as equipment and applications designed for BGAN grow in number and variety. Both stand-alone terminals and systemized packages using the medium are becoming ever more ruggedized, and there is greater frontline use in command posts, vehicles and mobile operations.
TACTICAL MANPACK
Harris Corp., for example, launched a new BGAN capability for its AN/PRC-117G multiband tactical manpack radios this fall. The capability comes in two variants—the Class 2 dismounted and Class 10 vehicle mounted kit, offering throughput of 192 Kbps and 492 Kbps respectively.
“If you look at tactical beyond-line-of-sight [BLOS] satellite communications, there is a real challenge because there is simply not enough capacity in the Department of Defense,” said Christopher Martin, product manager at Harris’ RF Communications Division. “We believe that this capability has a place in filling that communications gap.”
There are currently more than 2,000 AN/PRC-117Gs in U.S. service, and that number is set to rise significantly following the recent approval of a $419 million basic purchasing agreement contract to supply the Army with the radio.
“What makes our product unique is the MIL-STD ruggedization to both the products and also their EMI/EMC performance,” Martin explained. “If you are going to take a BGAN terminal and put it on a vehicle that already has several antennas, that terminal must be able to stand up in that environment and not only perform itself but also not interfere with other radios. That is something that we have really paid attention to; there is a whole range of MIL-STD-461 requirements that the radio meets.”
In both cases, the BGAN antenna and transceiver are integrated into a single unit, connected to the AN/PRC-117G via an Ethernet cable. Adding to the BGAN capability is done via a small software upgrade to any new or existing radio of that type.
Along with adding a wideband BLOS capability to the AN/PRC- 117G, over and above existing UHF SATCOM and, in the future, the Mobile User Objective System, the close integration enables other tactical advantages, Martin explained. “It also allows us to better integrate the Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform [ANW2] network so now we can expand the line of sight wideband capability and extend it via BLOS using the BGAN terminal.
“We can connect wireless ANW2 clouds together or, if we have BGAN terminals within a single ANW2 cloud that was split in two, we can use the BGAN terminals to maintain connectivity between the two halves of that split,” Martin said, adding that this use would dramatically increase the range and coverage of mobile wideband ad hoc networks.
Martin explained that by using the AN/PRC-117G to communicate over BGAN, the system uses the Falcon III radio’s Type 1 capabilities, “[Data] coming out of the radio is encrypted so even though it is using public infrastructure, it still has the Type 1 encryption supplied by the radio. Though we see a lot of value in connecting it to the AN/PRC- 117G, the BGAN [transceiver/antenna unit] is also a stand-alone terminal and can connect to a PC just like any other BGAN terminal.”
HYBRID TERMINAL
In April, ViaSat received Type 1 Suite A and B certification from the National Security Agency (NSA) for the ruggedized AN/PSC-14(C) BGAN integrated manpack terminal, and as of October the product is shipping to customers.
The AN/PSC-14 is a hybrid, explained Marty Conrad, senior global sales manager, Network Systems Group at ViaSat. “It takes a commercial INMARSAT BGAN system that we have ruggedized for the military customer, adds embedded Type 1 IP encryption using our AltaSec reprogrammable crypto engine, and TCP acceleration, and is all within a tactical radio form factor.” The AN/PRC-14(C) launch customer was the Air Force 36th Contingency Response Group, in 2007.
Conrad cited the radio’s compactness relative to previous incarnations of BGAN equipment. “Some customers today would use a BGAN transit case system, with a commercial INMARSAT BGAN and external IP crypto like our external KG250. However, if a person is going to jump out of a plane, that doesn’t really meet his operational needs. He needs something that isn’t connected by a lot of cables, has battery and AC/DC power in a tactical form factor that is truly rugged.”
There are essentially four modes of operation in the AN/PRC- 14(C). The first mode is Plain Text, which works as a standard INMARSAT BGAN terminal with the encryption shut off. The next mode is simultaneous Cypher Text-Plain Text, in which unencrypted connectivity is complemented by a Class 5 High Side connection. The third mode is split where the black side of the crypto goes, so it doesn’t automatically route it over the satellite, allowing the users to use an external router if other communications paths are available.
The final mode uses just the terminal’s encryption capability, Conrad explained. “This is a Cypher Text only mode, where the SATCOM is shut off, and lets it perform as a Type 1 HAIPE crypto. So if I am in a hotel room, where for $9.95 I get all the high speed Internet I want, I can simply plug that in and tunnel through. I can either use it as a SATCOM terminal or as a stand-alone crypto device over an IP network.”
Because the AN/PRC-14(C) is a Type 1 Suite A and Suite B device, it is releasable to only the U.S., NATO and similar close allies with government approval. The AN/PSC-14(C) has also been designed with change in mind.
MOVING COMMS
Thales offers BGAN capabilities in two “flavors,” according to Mark Pyne, sales manager, INMARSAT Distribution at Thales’ Crawley, U.S., facility. “We have ‘static’ units that are used as a portable application, and then we also have a vehicle-based solution that allows us to do communications on the move [CotM].” Both offer simultaneous data and voice up to 492 Kbps.
The CotM product can operate on vehicles traveling at up to about 60 miles per hour. It operates a mechanically steered antenna and works with geostationary satellites, Pyne explained. “Basically, the main issue is maintaining line of sight. This device locks on to the satellite and tracks it as the vehicle moves; if lock is lost, the terminal scans the sky again, reacquires the satellite and automatically locks on again, all without user intervention.”
The solution is based around a Thrane and Thrane BGAN terminal. “We are a worldwide distribution partner for the service, and we sell the hardware and package with INMARSAT airtime. However, we also bring together a number of applications from within Thales and from external providers to be able to provide it as a systems solution, rather than just an airtime package.”
Solutions can either be leased or purchased outright, although Pyne noted that almost all military users have chosen the latter option. “Using the system is very similar to a mobile phone network, in so far as much that you have a SIM card that plugs into the unit, which is then linked back to the billing system for the airtime.” Thales’ BGAN solutions are in use with a number of armed forces that are participating in Afghanistan, Pyne said. “Highly portable, remote communications is really where BGAN fits.”
The CotM solution can be fixed to vehicles via either a screw or magnetic mount, with an ultra-compact modem inside with only a single cable connecting the two. Discussing vehicle installation, Pyne said, “You are literally running on antenna cable, so it is only a couple of hours work.”
“In the portable or the static unit, you are only talking about 30 seconds from power up to it being used,” he continued. “It really is as quick as that. Once you have found the satellite there is a control panel on top of the terminal to see what the signal strength is. Then you are up and running and you just plug in your computer, camera or other IP-based solution.”
VALUE-ADDED SERVICES
Vizada, meanwhile, supplies BGAN capabilities to government users differently. In addition to hardware and airtime, it offers services using the BGAN capability as a part of a wider solution to a tactical problem. Solutions are rarely one-dimensional, and typically require a variety of solutions to give them the end-to-end solution that meets military needs.
“BGAN is an important piece, but it is just one piece,” explained Bo Norton, vice president of government sales for Vizada Americas. “When you require large amounts of data, no one operating system is a silver bullet. It requires a multitude of systems.” Norton added that what really mattered was the value-added services and high quality of service that Vizada offers through its network for BGAN and other IP-based services to enhance the communication medium’s core capabilities.
As an INMARSAT distribution partner, Vizada buys the BGAN service directly from that company, adds value-added services and operates them through their network. Using an indirect distribution model, BGAN and other INMARSAT services are then offered to more than 400 independent service providers globally, over 130 of which operating in the Americas. These service providers in turn provide to the end-user.
“At the end of the day, a satellite pipe is a bent pipe,” commented Norton. “The challenge for the distribution partner is how to make it more useful and user friendly to meet the customer’s needs. The U.S. government, for example, has unique needs—it requires a lot of background IP, while others want to send and receive streaming IP. The application drives the needs, and some examples might include sending large files back and forth, conducting videoconferencing or sending real-time live video feeds.
“For many customers, BGAN is unique in that it can give you a lot more capability than the previous INMARSAT equipment and is more cost-effective. Naturally, the customer likes that.”
Addressing the need to manage a solution, in this case a BGANbased network, Norton points to Vizada’s Web portal tool, “The Source.”
“The reason ‘The Source’ is so important for the government customer is that it gives them a lot of control over their SIM cards and really allows them to manage their funding—that is absolutely key. With ‘The Source,’ they can do everything from activating and deactivating SIMs as well as monitor daily usage so that they can stay within their budget.”
BGAN’s role in mobile satellite services is compelling in certain key roles according to Norton. “BGAN hits all the right buttons. The terminals are small, lightweight and capable of being thrown in rucksack or in some cases put in a pocket, and you are off and running. I can set it up every quickly, get a signal, get the information I need, shut it down, fold it right up, put it in my rucksack, and I am off and running again. That type of capability is invaluable. BGAN terminals fit a critical niche for the military because of their voice and data capabilities, size, low price and ruggedness. It’s a great combination.”
Looking to the future, Norton noted that there are discussions under way on possibly implementing the BGAN waveform without the need for a terminal as we know it today, adding to the range of potential applications for the service. However, an important user for the maritime version of BGAN (FleetBroadband) in the near term will be U.S. military and related users afloat. Vizada is currently competing to meet the Navy and Coast Guard’s broadband requirements as they move to replace their INMARSAT B terminals.
SECURE ARCHITECTURE
Another important provider in this area is Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI), which understands there is a critical reliance on commercial satellite voice and data services to meet the net-centric operations requirements of mobile forces. SGSI executives emphasize that they are committed to maximizing the power of INMARSAT BGAN by integrating the latest third-party applications and equipment into a secure architecture that meets DoD’s OPSEC and IA objectives.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration and the Secretary of the Army, in separate communications, recently recognized the OPSEC vulnerabilities associated with the use of commercial satellite services. Accordingly, they directed service providers to mitigate those risks.
SGSI is meeting that directive by designing the Stratos Government Network (SGN). With expected deployment in early 2010, SGN is a secure architecture that military users can rely upon to minimize OPSEC exposure while using the BGAN family of services to fulfill mission objectives on the ground, at sea and in the air.
“The field operative at the edge of the network is now the core of information and knowledge for mobile forces. That makes communication with the edge of the network more vital than ever,” said SGSI President Bob Roe. By delivering secure, bandwidth-intensive applications to the edge of the network, BGAN via the new SGN will help military organizations improve their effectiveness and safety,” Roe explained that the utilization of SGN means SGSI will provide the industry’s only BGAN offering that is compliant with both OPSEC and IA. By combining SGN with the Stratos Advantage suite of valueadded services, Stratos has engineered the optimal solution to achieve security objectives of BGAN users in the military. SGSI’s support of enhanced OPSEC also includes secure billing, which makes it very difficult for adversaries to piece together billing patterns to determine operational activity.
The Stratos Advantage provides BGAN users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services, and full IP range—including StratosNet Accelerator TCP/IP for faster Internet connections and file transfer.
SGN is completely separate from Stratos commercial service. It will feature points of presence in the Netherlands and Hawaii. Also, it will be monitored, managed and maintained by the SGSI Network Operations Center, staffed exclusively by U.S. citizens.
“The carefully planned attributes of SGN meet the military user’s critical needs for increased security, decreased latency and geographic diversity,” Roe said. “The SGN secure architecture is a fully private network backed up by a commercial network. It also reduces the distance to the government-network point of entry, provides customer APN routing privileges, as well as additional network access and authentication control.” ♦
