[Satellite TODAY Insider 04-08-11] U.S. Space, a solutions provider for government and commercial markets, has entered the mobile business by launching a new entity, U.S. Space Mobile Communications, U.S. Space announced April 7.
    The company will provide mobile voice, data and video communications solutions to the U.S. Departments of Defense, State and Homeland Security and other government agencies for air, sea and land mobile connectivity covering 70 percent of the globe. The coverage includes strategically important areas of Asia, Africa, the Middle East as well as international waterways.
    In a statement, U.S. Space Co-founder Mark Piegza said the company’s coverage areas are expected to increase over time. “To ensure our customers the flexibility and customized end-to-end solutions required to meet their specific needs, we have also developed multiple security and mission assurance strategies.”
    Piegza, who also will serve as chairman of U.S. Space Mobile Communications, said the service would provide voice and data security through independent access, bandwidth allocation, encryption and secure routing into the customer’s network. The company also selected a partner to connect its network infrastructure.
“U.S. Space has selected Thuraya Telecommunications as the airtime and bandwidth supplier for its superior network capabilities. Thuraya’s current handheld devices, which are the smallest yet most rugged on the market, as well as its data terminals are among the most competitive solutions in the satellite telecom market today,” Piegza said.
    U.S. Air Force Maj. General (ret.) Craig Weston will serve as CEO of U.S. Mobile Communications. “Our solutions enable congestion-free service with five times more users on one spot beam than is made possible through any other satellite operator. We are in this business to provide effective, government-friendly solutions with the highest quality service at extremely attractive prices.”
    Financial details of the Thuraya contract were not disclosed.

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