Narrowband Satellite Communications: Challenges and Emerging Solutions

Narrowband satellite communications (NB-SATCOM) technology is used by the DoD primarily for communications among dismounted soldiers, as well as among ground vehicles, ships, and aircraft. It is attractive because of the favorable propagation properties of the frequencies in the ultrahigh- frequency, L-, and S-bands. NB-SATCOM has continuously been evolving in both military and commercial domains. This evolution is necessary to keep up with the technological advances and to meet increasing user requirements; however, the high cost of terminal replacement demands continued support for the existing terminal base. This article focuses on the challenges faced by DoD for future NB-SATCOM services, along with potential options for next-generation systems. Emerging technology enablers and recent advances in SATCOM services are also discussed.