Integral Systems’ subsidiary, RT Logic (News - Alert) is developing a software-defined modem, or “SDM,” for the new feeder link terminals, or “FLT.” This contract has been awarded by Iridium (News - Alert) Communications and the company will deploy these FLTs at its ground stations.

 

Iridium Communications is a mobile satellite service, or “MSS,” company offering coverage over the entire globe. John Roddy (News - Alert), executive vice president of ground operations and product development, Iridium, said that the importance of this new modem in their ground network modernization program.

 

Iridium’s program will be based on a state-of-the-art teleport network architecture and they have chosen RT Logic to supply this critical component for this initiative. Roddy said his company chose RT Logic impressed by its extensive technical expertise as a supplier of commercial off-the-shelf, or “COTS,” SDMs for low-earth orbiting satellite applications.

 

The reliability of Iridium’s network will be strengthened even further by the new teleport network architecture with FLTs at multiple locations. The company will now have new layers of built-in redundancy for their existing satellite constellation.

 

The new architecture will be the backbone of Iridium NEXT, their next-generation satellite network, said Roddy.

 

RT Logic will deliver two prototype modems for on-orbit test and verification to Iridium that has scheduled the completion of development and certification effort by the end of next year.

 

In November, Integral Systems (News - Alert) was selected to provide integrated ground station network support to BAE Systems' (News - Alert) Australia JP2008 Phase 3F Program. This project is supporting the Australian Defence Force Satellite Communications Capability (ADSCC) and will become operational by 2013.