However, there is no technical reason the military-unique requirements of the
SATCOM ICD cannot be met by the private sector. For example, a frequent objection to
commercial SATCOM is that it limits users to commercial frequencies. However, this
need not be the case, as evidenced by XTAR’s recent development. In Satellite Evolution
Global, XTAR Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dr. Denis Curtin described his company’s
flagship satellite constellation, which is “the world’s first commercial provider of X-band
satellite services designed exclusively for government users.” Could a private company
build and operate satellites catering to both military and commercial frequencies?
Absolutely—Dr. Curtin states that “the multi-frequency government/commercial hybrid
model is a very efficient and cost-effective way of building a satellite system” (Satellite
Evolution Global, 2006).