By Andrew Aroh

• Satellite technology plays a pivotal role in National security as well as emergency management and will play an even greater role tomorrow
• Many satellite companies are trying to establish new ties with Nation’s securities, or trying to expand ongoing relationships with existing clients in the form of partnership with agencies that function in that domain.
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• Others are watching for signs within States and Local Offices of EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT who are seeking Satellite solutions via various grants from the National Security and from the public health sector.
• Although Budgets are tight and while the people who set the priorities and interests at the National Security departments may have satellite on their screen, they have not completed the complex process of transforming the corresponding agencies and their employees into a single unified organization.
• Paying close attention to Broad Agency Announcement as well as announced contract opportunities will also help identify specific persons to speak to when it comes to considering Satellite service within the department.
• Two of the biggest priorities at a typical Department of National Security are:
  • Uninterrupted communications
  • Ability and the capacity to acquire GEOSPATIAL IMAGERY and related tools.
• In the science and technology directorate of such National security department, we identify SENSOR DEVELOPMENT as the number one priority for the following agents:
  • Biological
  • Chemical
  • Nuclear
  • Radiological
• No one knows more about sensors that the satellite community
• The people, industries and communities should look at the Satellite responsibilities in the following application areas:
  • Patrolling our borders and ports
  • Exchanging information with law enforcement
  • Helping a community plan, respond and recover from a natural disaster such as a flood, fire, etc.
• The Satellite industry needs to work more closely with the military, Department of National Security and Emergency Agencies.
• A long with technical support and consulting services in many instances, more partnering is necessary as these organizations forges a series of guidelines as opposed to pursuing adhoc approach.
• On procurement activity, those to occur on the local government level, state level and National level must be spelt out. This will help prime contractors by identifying a niche, Skill or services that are not being pursued for a variety of reasons.
• While these state and local orientation sessions are going on all the time, there is a sense that a more focused event would serve everyone’s interest.
• The information and communications technology (ICT) revolution has changed the way business is transacted, government operates and national defense is conducted.
• In mapping threats against vulnerabilities, ICT integration is clearly the initial priority along with establishing needed baseline telecommunications infrastructure to support those systems.
• Currently, the military department of state security and the emergency agencies must be intensely focused on getting all information sharing systems seamlessly talking to each other.
• Satellite may initially play an ancillary role as a result of the usual approach.
• However, this is expected to change as new applications are being considered in areas requiring MOBILE BROADBAND COMMUNICATION for:
  • National Security
  • First Responders
  • Restoration Efforts
  • BUSINESS CONTINUITY/DISASTER RECOVERY
  • Border Security
• As a result, commercial satcom will enjoy market share in supporting these applications.
• Note that Inmarsat is a sound alternative which can be deployed as a tracking solution today without new Satellite
• The key thing to keep in mind here is that the Satellite solutions in question must have the following features:
  • Easy to use
  • Transparent
  • Immediately familiar
• The agencies cannot afford anything beyond the most abbreviated training at this point
• As for the individual states, most must begin to include Satellite broadband communications in their emergency preparedness and response planning. This will make a lot of difference to States that have good ideas with respect to how Satellites fits into their overall approach to emergency preparedness.
• You encounter different requirements at the state level because each state has unique criteria and a different mix of critical infrastructure, along with such things as various port and border issues.

A Central Satellite office for procurement with the National Security + the Military + Emergency Agency.

• A unit needs to be created and funded to implement a commercial satcom National Security/Military/Emergency preparedness improvement program to procure and manage Satellite communications facilities and services necessary to increase the robustness of government communications.
• A centralization of Satellite activities makes good sense. It is wildly thought that we must implement a consolidated approach to both procurement practices and the overall management of Satellite bandwidth
• With a management authority, the unit could greatly benefit from the coordination that a centralized procurement office could provide.
• By far, one of the most significant request coming from the commercial Satellite industry is a need for having a single agency development large-scale contracts for Satellite services, such as for transponder time. This kind of process would be fine as long as the individual service can procure the proper device or application without having to go through multiple complex procurement cycles.
• Interoperability is also a key concern, and here again, the lack of a team focused on Satellite solutions alone means that interoperability is probably not having given the attention that it needs.
• The unit needs to preserve interoperability, and this involves a flexible standard-based approach rather that embracing closed proprietary platform.
• By adhering to interoperability standards, the required unit would not only benefit through interagency and inter program communications, but also benefits through increased buying power.
• National security must not be viewed as simply a business proposition, but an urgent undertaking on a vast scale, which has the best interest of Nigerian Citizens in mind as it winds its ways to fruition.
• We should think years, not months, and yet do not lose sight of the fact that requirements can change in a heartbeat.
• Andrew Aroh is President SSPI Nigeria