There is an increase in battlefield technology and the number of digital armies and soldiers who are relying on technology for critical real-time communications, surveillance and reconnaissance, telemedicine, mapping and analysis in order to gain a better perspective of what is happening on the ground. 

BGAN Application Tester

Armies are exposed to military threats in all theaters as well as cyber threats. In 2016, NATO warded off 500 cyber attacks each month according to statistics compiled by the military alliance. In February 2017, the final report of the Defence Science Board (DSB) Task Force of Cyber Deterrence noted that the cyber threat to U.S. critical infrastructure is outpacing efforts to reduce pervasive vulnerabilities. It concluded that a more proactive and systematic approach to U.S. cyber deterrence is urgently needed.

Field commanders need to be sure that the satellite communication equipment they will employ during operations will work anywhere, at any time, in any network situation. They also need to be know that traditional on-air testing of satellite terminals will not expose them to cyber attacks and unwittingly reveal sensitive information about a mission and its location.

With the military using the global satellite network BGAN for mission-critical communications, GateHouse Telecom has developed the BGAN Application Tester (BAT). With BAT, the military can test satellite terminals whenever they want in a closed, secure environment off-air before using them in the field. 

Tine P. Pedersen, Sales Director, Satellite Communication said that off-air testing of BGAN terminals before military operations begin will offset any concerns commanders may have about equipment working and cyber security, and that equipped with BAT, the risk of releasing sensitive information during mission preparations is eliminated.