The use of LEO SatComs in the military, for humanitarian aid and as a tool for diplomacy

Australian Defence Magazine Podcast

In this episode, Grant McHerron and Ben Felton talk with Dr Matthew Ilich, National Solutions Specialist for Defence at Vocus, about Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communications as a tool for diplomacy and humanitarian aid.

We kick off the discussion by getting a background of Mathew’s path into communications and his experiences in the Army. We review the evolution of LEO SatComs technology and their applications in the field, and its suitability for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) scenarios due to their portability, consistent coverage, and high data speeds. We also explore operational prioritisations for low, mid, and geostationary satcoms, involving considerations with ensuring encryption, privatised solutions, and the parties involved in the operation. The discussion also dives into real world experiences of deploying LEO communications, with insights into the planning involved, possible sources of service disruptions, and the retention of radio technologies.

We wrap up by considering the possible diplomatic risks involved with deploying LEO SatCom during disasters, and the increased competition that the space is seeing.

LINKS:

Vocus Satellite Comms: www.vocus.com.au/enterprise/connectivity/satellite-services

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