Tactical Services Providers: Wireless extension design and performance analysis

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is operating as the Technical Manager in the tactical services provider (TSP) joint capability technology demonstration (JCTD). TSP will evaluate the ability of mobile broadband technologies to provide global communication capabilities to support widely dispersed Warfighters on mobile and fixed platforms. Utilizing a hybrid architecture of emerging, standards-based SATCOM and wireless technologies, TSP offers wideband communications that support two-way, high-bandwidth services for tactical users. For the wireless extension, TSP uses a commercially-available IEEE 802.16-2005 base station solution that interoperates with small form factor wireless subscriber devices to support fixed, mobile, and nomadic end users. Prior to defining the wireless extension solution and designing the integration approach with the SATCOM system, DISA performed a detailed analysis of candidate solutions. This paper will discuss the analysis of solutions and selection criteria used to design TSPpsilas wireless extension architecture. In addition, the paper will provide information on the initial system design, SATCOM-wireless integration approach, as well as test and demonstration plans and performance metrics. Furthermore, the paper will share test results, lessons learned, and best practices from the wireless integration and test effort.