Nextgov - Official says Defense can save millions with in-house satellites
By Bob Brewin, NextGov, Posted 02/27/09
Link: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090220_1669.php?zone=NGpopular
“The Defense Department could save a total of $600 million from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2016 by shifting much of the traffic currently handled by commercial communications satellite operators to Wideband Global System satellites, a top Pentagon official told Nextgov. Commercial satellite operators disagreed, and said they can provide capacity cheaper and more quickly than the WGS satellites, which are built by Boeing and owned and operated by the Defense Department.” This article raises key questions about government’s relationship with the private sector in this critical and growing communication services area. It appears that an objective assessment of the pros/cons on this issue will be conducted soon and may have impact on the broader issue of the government as customer for further entrepreneurial space market development. Stay tuned.
Comments
Future Space Communications Needs Objective Assessment
From: Richard Mains, 03/07/09
It appears that there is a significant conflict between the DoD and the private sector communication satellite developers about capabilities and costs. We would strongly urge that this issue be assessed by an appropriate independent group (NGO?) to determine past performance, current status, and projected needs to ensure that the private sector remains a cost-effective provider. Technology evolution is occurring so rapidly in this area, it is likely that only the private sector will be able to evolve capabilities in a cost effective manner over time. Short-term cost savings may well be short-sighted and commercial space services need to be expanded, not shrunk by government competition. We need to outsource to U.S. entities to create good, sustainable jobs.
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