WASHINGTON – The Canadian Department of Defense has become the first international partner to gain access to the U.S. Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite network, the U.S. Space Force announced Nov. 30.
Developed by the US Navy, MUOS is used for voice, video and data transmissions over a narrowband network of satellites in geosynchronous orbit – four operational satellites and one spare satellite in orbit. The Navy handed the system over to the Space Force in March 2023.
At a demonstration in October, Canadian operators used MUOS to transmit voice and data over military tactical radios from two locations in Ottawa.
Canadian officials used secure military radios to make point-to-point calls, transfer files and access group chat services on the network. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, MUOS satellites operate in the ultra-high frequency band and use 3G cellular technology to provide narrow-band digital signals to mobile forces.
The project to give Canada access to the MUOS network began four years ago when Canada entered into a foreign military sales agreement with the United States.
The demonstration was a success
Canadian users have shown they can use push-to-talk and connect from one Canadian radio terminal to another, Thomas Cesear, head of the MUOS integration lab, said in a news release.
“They were also able to successfully perform other services such as chat, file transfer, email and group calling,” he said.
Another demonstration is planned for March 2024, said Scott Mackenzie, project manager for the Canadian Department of Defense.
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