Satcom Direct Avionics, the Canadian division of Satcom Direct (SD), has won a competitive bid to deliver multi-band aeronautical connectivity services for Shared Services Canada (SSC) and its clients for a period of up to seven years.
This represents the first signing of such an agreement between the two entities, which will see SD Avionics provide appropriately secured high-speed broadband and datalink services, hardware, hosting and infrastructure services to support global aeronautical missions for SSC and other federal Canadian government bodies. The deal will be supported by services including training and customer support, as well as regular upgrades of the technology.
Through SSC, Canadian government users will benefit from easy ordering access to quickly establish worldwide connectivity delivered through multiple band airtime services, including Ka, Ku and L-band options.
As an Inmarsat Tier 1 distribution partner and value-added reseller, SD will support the full range of Inmarsat aviation services including Global Xpress (GX) airtime powered by the Ka-band Global Xpress constellation, SwiftBroadband and Classic Aeronautical services; Ku-band services will be powered by the Intelsat FlexAir network.
As an approved Tier 1 value-added reseller for Iridium, SD will also support Iridium Airtime, Voice and Low Data Throughput services as well as Iridium Short Burst and Short Message Service (SMS) services and Iridium Certus Airtime services. SD said the aggregated group of services and optimisation of multi-orbit capabilities will ensure it facilitates enhanced high-speed broadband connectivity solutions to provide airborne users with seamless, continuous and reliable worldwide mobile connectivity.
The aeronautical services will be supported by SD’s terrestrial network to ensure appropriately secured transmission of all SSC customers’ data from aircraft to the Canadian federal government specified locations. SD said that combined, the services will ensure always-on global connectivity, even in the most geographically challenging environments.
“We have an extensive understanding of how connectivity is used by these customers, who are often operating critical missions in extreme environments,” said Joanne Walker, general manager for Satcom Direct Avionics. “With an agnostic approach to technology and partners, we already deliver multi-orbit connectivity services that optimise the combination of GEO, LEO and HEO satellites. This in-depth knowledge, expertise and proven capability of managing requirements and exceeding expectations, even in the most difficult of circumstances, has enabled SD to win this contract. Our team worked extremely hard to win this contract, and we are looking forward to developing our relationship with the Canadian government.”
The contract is confirmed for an initial period of three years with four additional one-year options. SD Avionics is responsible for fulfilling the acquisition requests, delivering consistent connectivity, and providing customer support as and when needed by SSC representatives and clients.
The SSC mandate is to provide modern, appropriately secured, and reliable IT services to government entities. It also supports Canadian citizens’ access to government benefits and services from anywhere, at any time, from any device.
