[Satellite TODAY 10-28-11] The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract to Stratos to provide connectivity solutions to Coast Guard cutter vessels, Stratos’ government division SGSI announced Oct. 27.

   SGSI will provide the Coast Guard with Ku-band satellite airtime, installation support, teleport equipment and service, network operations center support and training. SGSI’s Ku-band network aims to enable high- and medium-endurance cutters to interconnect with the Coast Guard’s data network to exchange operational ship traffic, including SIPRNET and NIPRNET data.

   Stratos said Ku-band communications is a critical component of the Coast Guard’s efforts to upgrade technology onboard its ships, as it migrates from Inmarsat B lease services to IP communications architecture.

   Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.