Comtech announced that its WGS-certified modem has been successfully tested and certified to operate on SES’s next-generation O3b mPOWER medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite network. This milestone expands the modem’s operational flexibility across both geostationary (GEO) and MEO constellations—critical for resilient military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) in contested environments.
WGS Modem Certification and Strategic Implications
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system is a cornerstone of American military communications infrastructure. Comtech’s modem—already certified for use across the WGS constellation—has now been validated to interoperate with SES’s commercial O3b mPOWER MEO satellites. This dual certification enables seamless connectivity across orbital regimes without requiring hardware swaps or mission reconfiguration.
This development is significant in light of the U.S. Space Force’s push toward hybrid space architectures that integrate commercial capabilities into military networks. By enabling a single terminal/modem solution to operate across both government-owned GEO assets (like WGS) and commercial MEO platforms (like O3b mPOWER), Comtech enhances operational agility while reducing logistical complexity.
About the O3b mPOWER Constellation
SES’s O3b mPOWER system is a high-throughput MEO constellation designed to deliver low-latency broadband services globally. The network operates in Ka-band and leverages dynamic beamforming and software-defined networking to allocate bandwidth adaptively based on user demand.
The first six satellites of the planned 11-satellite constellation were launched between late 2022 and mid-2024 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. The system is designed to offer throughput rates exceeding 10 Gbps per beam with latency under 150 ms—substantially lower than traditional GEO systems.
For defense users, this translates into faster data links for ISR feeds, command-and-control traffic, and mobile tactical nodes—all without sacrificing global reach or requiring fixed infrastructure.
Technical Integration: Modem Interoperability Across Orbits
The certification process involved rigorous testing of Comtech’s modem against the performance parameters of the O3b mPOWER network under varying link conditions. According to both companies, this included validation of waveform compatibility, adaptive coding/modulation schemes, beam handovers during mobility scenarios, and secure data handling protocols.
While specific technical details remain proprietary, industry sources indicate that Comtech leveraged its FlexMove™ waveform suite—a software-defined architecture supporting adaptive bandwidth allocation and Doppler compensation—to enable cross-orbit operability. This allows terminals using Comtech modems to switch between GEO (WGS) and MEO (mPOWER) links dynamically based on availability or mission requirements.
This capability aligns with DoD priorities outlined in Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2), which emphasize resilient comms pathways capable of surviving jamming or kinetic attacks through orbital diversity.
Operational Benefits for Military Users
For deployed forces relying on expeditionary SATCOM terminals—such as Special Operations Forces or forward-deployed C4ISR units—the ability to access both WGS and O3b mPOWER networks from a single modem significantly reduces SWaP-C burdens (Size, Weight, Power & Cost). It also simplifies training pipelines by standardizing equipment interfaces across mission sets.
- Resiliency: Accessing both GEO and MEO constellations mitigates single-point-of-failure risks posed by anti-satellite weapons or orbital congestion.
- Redundancy: Multiple orbital paths ensure continued connectivity even if one network experiences degradation or denial.
- Latency-sensitive operations: ISR streaming or remote piloting benefit from lower latency offered by MEO systems like O3b mPOWER compared to traditional GEO links.
This dual-mode capability also supports emerging CONOPS involving distributed operations where units may be operating beyond line-of-sight but require persistent high-throughput links for targeting data exchange or AI-enabled battlefield analytics.
The Path Ahead: Hybrid MILSATCOM Architectures
The certification comes amid broader Pentagon efforts—including SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA)—to build layered space communications networks blending government-owned assets with commercial services. The U.S. Space Force has repeatedly emphasized the importance of leveraging commercial innovation cycles while maintaining assured access through contractual frameworks like COMSATCOM Pathfinder and EDISA II contracts.
Comtech’s achievement positions it favorably within this evolving procurement landscape as DoD seeks vendors capable of delivering interoperable solutions aligned with open standards such as STANAGs and CCS-C interfaces. It also underscores growing trust in commercial operators like SES as reliable partners in contested space domains.
Industry Context: Competitive Landscape in MILSATCOM Terminals
The market for multi-orbit-capable SATCOM terminals is increasingly competitive. Companies such as Viasat/Inmarsat Government Services, Hughes Defense Systems, Intelsat General Communications (IGC), Kymeta Government Solutions, GetSat Ltd., Paradigm Communications—and others—are all pursuing similar certifications across hybrid constellations including Starlink Enterprise/DoD variants, OneWeb SecureNet offerings via Eutelsat Group post-merger integration plans, and Amazon Kuiper defense applications under development via AWS GovCloud integrations.
However, Comtech maintains a strong legacy position within DoD programs due to its long-standing involvement in WGS-compatible hardware development—including modems used aboard Army WIN-T Increment 1/Increment 2 platforms—and its participation in NATO waveform standardization efforts under STANAG 4486/4606 compliance tracks.
Conclusion
The successful certification of Comtech’s WGS modem for use on SES’s advanced O3b mPOWER network marks a key step toward realizing interoperable multi-orbit SATCOM solutions tailored for modern military operations. As threats evolve across terrestrial and orbital domains alike—and as JADC2 doctrine matures—the ability to leverage flexible commercial architectures alongside purpose-built government systems will be critical for assured global connectivity under fire.
