Satellite communication (SATCOM) is a crucial capability required for the conduct of operations, today and in the future.
The demand for SATCOM capacity will increase over the next decades due to growing information exchange demands, increasingly networked capabilities and significantly improved sensor technology. Both in the civil and military environment the requirement to meet this demand through reliable, secured and cost-effective satellite communication services for EU and national public authorities managing security critical missions and operations has been identified.
In 2013, the European Council recognized that there is a clear need for a new solution combining the advantages of commercial and military satellite systems in order to address both civil and military needs through European cooperation.
The European Defence Agency, in collaboration with the European Commission and the European Space Agency, is preparing this next generation of GOVSATCOM (watch this video).
The EDA currently is finalising the preparation phase on GOVSATCOM and will propose to its Member States as the next step a pooling and sharing demonstration of governmental satellite systems. With this demonstration a secure and guaranteed access to satellite communication solutions to a wide range of European and national civil and military users shall be proven.
The roadmap towards this next step will be launched by the EDA Steering Board in May 2017.
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