HOUSTON, Texas, 22 March 2005. Eagle Broadband, Inc. announced today that Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Eagle have been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force for Eagle's Satellite Media Access Extender (SatMAX) non-line-of-sight satellite communications technology.
They have shipped the system for immediate deployment at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Scott Air Force Base has purchased the SatMAX technology from SAIC and Eagle Broadband using SAIC's GSA schedule.
Scott Air Force Base is an Air Force joint command headquarters base that controls and directs missions that range from deploying troops for national defense to transporting the President of the United States. Under the terms of the contract award, SAIC and Eagle Broadband are providing Scott Air Force Base with a turnkey SatMAX solution including network design, installation, training and 24/7 support services.
Scott Air Force Base plans to use SatMAX to provide reliable voice and data communications via the Iridium satellite network in non-line-of-sight environments. Scott Air Force Base's deployment plan includes use of the SatMAX technology within a critical control center enabling multiple officers and personnel to use their existing Iridium satellite phones to concurrently make fully wireless, secure calls from inside the facility. The enhanced, non-line-of-sight satellite communications and wireless mobility made possible by the SatMAX can help ensure uninterrupted communications for Scott Air Force Base personnel and improve mission effectiveness with highly reliable ground-to-ground, ground-to-air and air-to-ground communications.
Scott Air Force Base is home to the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and the Air Mobility Command (AMC). Scott is also home to the 18th Air Force Headquarters, the 375th Airlift Wing, the 932nd Reserve Airlift Wing and the 126th Air National Guard Refueling Wing. The United States Transportation Command is the largest transportation enterprise in the world. As the single manager of America's global defense transportation system, USTRANSCOM is tasked with the coordination of people and transportation assets to allow our country to project and sustain forces whenever, wherever, and for as long as they are needed, in both times of peace and war.
Air Mobility Command (AMC), the air component of USTRANSCOM, is also headquartered at Scott Air Force Base. The Air Mobility Command (AMC) has the primary mission for providing all of the armed services airlift, aerial refueling, special air missions and aeromedical evacuation. AMC also contracts and controls the command contracts for commercial airlifts for the Department of Defense.
"The ability to provide secure, reliable communications from any location on Earth is more important than ever for the U.S. government and military," said Eric Kaiser, SAIC vice president, life cycle support services. "We look forward to teaming with Eagle Broadband to deploy Eagle's SatMAX technology to meet the critical communications needs of Scott Air Force Base as reflected in this contract and for other government and military customers around the world."
Dave Weisman, Eagle Broadband chairman and CEO, commented, "We are honored that Scott Air Force Base has selected Eagle's SatMAX technology to enhance their communications and mission support. This contract award demonstrates how the SatMAX can be used to provide reliable, secure satellite communications in non-line-of-sight environments to support active operations and enhance mission effectiveness. We look forward to working with SAIC to assist Scott Air Force Base and other military customers improve their communications."
Eagle's SatMAX non-line-of-sight satellite communications technology enables military, government and enterprise customers to quickly and easily make reliable, fully wireless, voice and data communications available from any non-line-of-site location, including inside buildings or structures, onboard vehicles, aircraft or ships, from obstructed areas, etc. With the SatMAX, users of the Iridium satellite network can use their existing satellite phones to make multiple concurrent calls within SatMAX-enabled "hotspot" areas from any location on Earth. The technology enables routine, mission critical and backup communications that can improve safety and security, emergency preparedness and response, user productivity, mobility, problem solving and mission support.
SAIC is the largest employee-owned research and engineering company in the United States, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care, and logistics. With annual revenues of nearly $7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 45,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. For more information, see www.saic.com.
Eagle Broadband is a leading provider of broadband, Internet Protocol (IP) and communications technology and services that create new revenue opportunities for broadband providers and enhance communications for government, military and enterprise customers. Eagle leverages years of proven experience delivering advanced IP-based broadband bundled services to provide service provider partners with a way to deliver next-generation entertainment, communications and security services to their subscribers.
The company's product offerings include IPTVComplete, the fastest, lowest cost way for broadband providers to deliver the most competitive IP video services, the Media Pro line of HDTV-ready IP set-top boxes that enable broadband providers and hotel operators to maximize revenues by delivering state-of-the-art, interactive entertainment services and the SatMAX satellite communications system that provides government, military, homeland security and enterprise customers with reliable non-line-of-sight voice and data communications from any location on Earth. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, see www.eaglebroadband.com.
