STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 8, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- SWE-DISH Satellite Systems has been awarded a frame contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to a total value of USD 20 million for mobile satellite communications equipment and support services. The equipment will be used for transmission of video, data and voice content from remote or temporary established sites anywhere in the world. It was awarded in competition with other equipment manufacturers. A first order of USD 2.5 million has already been placed against the contract.
SWE-DISH Satellite Systems specializes in compact, quick-to-air and easy-to-use mobile satellite communications equipment, and has developed the smallest broadband satellite terminal in the world, the IPT Suitcase. The new contract with the U.S. Department of Defense contains the IPT Suitcase and the SWE-DISH FA150T Fly-Away system - a mobile satellite communication terminal for higher bandwidth requirements.
Mobile satellite terminals are a key component in net-centric warfare. Mobile satellite terminals are needed to connect mobile military units, just as fiber optics are used to connect companies and offices in the civilian world, And as the need for broadband connectivity moves down the command chain to smaller and more mobile units, the satellite terminals must become smaller and more mobile too.
Lars Jehrlander, CEO SWE-DISH comments: "The U.S. Department of Defense is leading the way in net-centric warfare, and is a key customer for us. We are also seeing the same growing need with other defense organizations, and are supplying similar solutions to armed forces in Scandinavia, Europe and Asia."
This new contract is the latest development in SWE-DISH ongoing work with the U.S. Department of Defense. The company won a similar contract with the U.S. Department of Defense in 2002 with a total value of USD 18 million. SWE-DISH satellite terminals are widely used by US forces, and e.g. the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) currently uses over 50 SWE-DISH satellite terminals. Recent critical certifications and licenses both from the US Defense Information System Agency (DISA) and the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have opened the way for new orders.
Lars Jehrlander, CEO of SWE-DISH concludes: "This is a strategic contract for SWE-DISH. It proves our position as the leading global supplier of mobile satellite communications equipment, and firmly establishes us as the preferred supplier to US Department of Defense."
ABOUT SWE-DISH
SWE-DISH Satellite Systems is a world-leading supplier of mobile satellite communications equipment and related services for broadband applications. The company supplies major broadcasters, armed forces and disaster relief organizations amongst others, with compact and quick-to-air satellite terminals for live transmission of video, data, internet and voice content from anywhere in the world. The customer base includes broadcasters such as CNN and BBC, disaster relief organizations and military organizations such as United Nations, NATO, Danish Defense, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) and the US Department of Defense. SWE-DISH was established 1994. http://www.swe-dish.com.
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