By John “JR” Russell, Chief Operating Officer
Overview: “Running Down a Dream” (Tom Petty)—Looking back on the last 12 months, to see how far we have come at SRT Group is breathtaking. We launched two market-disrupting products; earned increasing attention in the marketplace; took 18 trips to pitch our products in 12 countries; and enjoyed the best form of jet lag—exhaustion from a job well done.
Founded 15 years ago to exploit the convergence of cellular, Wi-Fi, and satellite communications technologies, the SRT Group of companies delivers mission-critical hardware, software, and services to major business, government, and nongovernmental customers. We are proud to serve customers in a variety of important sectors including national security, law enforcement, commercial telecommunications, oil and gas, and maritime.
We are also proud to be entirely self-funded. All of our employees are based at our headquarters in Davie, Florida, where we perform all of our research, development, manufacturing and training programs. We have doubled in size over the last five years; reached $25 million in annual revenues; and passed the 100 mark in our workforce, including subject matter experts in MSS L-band, 802.11 and 4G.
A Look Back: “Satellite” (Dave Matthews Band)—This has been one of the most exciting years for SRT in my seven year tenure, with deepening partnerships and technological breakthroughs fueling the promise of greater growth in years to come. A key highlight was our growing partnership with Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a leading mobile satellite services operator reaching nearly two-thirds of the globe (over 160 countries), via satellite. Thuraya has GSM roaming agreements with over 360 mobile operators around the world.
Thuraya CEO Samer Halawi presents the company’s 2013 Innovation Award to SRT Wireless’s John Russell (COO) and Conrad Smith (CTO) at the 013 Partners Conference in Dubai.
Last year, Thuraya selected SRT Wireless to provide it with a new, “all-in-one” satellite modem, essentially a software-defined radio (SDR) for advanced SATCOMs. The result of 42,000 hours of development, the VIPturbo is a compact, single-board modem that can handle all of the data and telecom services on Thuraya’s satellite network and can be modified to support additional waveforms. Specifically, the product enables developers and end users to access every service available on the Thuraya network, including voice, GmPRS (for low data rates), and high-speed IP data services.
The modem offers greater functionality at more than half the price of competing products and is stimulating the development of new products and services for the network. The module also has integrated Wi-Fi, allowing end-users to connect and communicate using their own smart phones and tablets, even in the most remote locations. Reflecting a major concern in the SATCOM world, the software is “hardened” to prevent cyber hacking.
Another key feature is the flexibility we built into its design, which allows developers and users to customize the modem as well as the applications developed for its use. The module includes a separate RF Headend Board (HIB) for antenna integration and a connector interface card that facilitates terminal vendor proprietary interface design.
Then, in June, SRT Wireless and Thuraya jointly introduced the IP Commander, the first and only ruggedized satellite broadband terminal designed to meet military specifications (IP 66 and IK 10 rated enclosure). The IP Commander enables mission-critical voice and data connectivity in mobile or stationary applications in the most extreme and remote environments, making it well suited for military and governmental operations, as well as applications in land mobile, energy and mining. The package includes a rugged voice handset that offers clear and uninterrupted voice connectivity across Thuraya’s satellite network, which covers many of the world’s strategic conflict zones.
In November, we introduced our newest satellite modem, the Afterburner. Whereas the VIPturbo is about the size of a paperback book, the Afterburner is about the size of pack of cigarettes, with a 50 percent reduction in power requirements—easily outperforming competitive products in terms of size, weight, price and performance.
SRT’s VIPturbo board.
Finally, we continue to provide network technology solutions and operational support for our customers that include network simulation and Radio Access Networks (RANs). These allow the SRT Group of companies significant advantages and a unique set of end-to-end capabilities for custom solutions to better address our customers’ requirements and needs. SRT Wireless’s product lifecycle vision takes a 360 degree view of our clients’ communications needs, extending beyond product delivery into designing and integrating custom systems. With integrated support we help our partners derive the most value from their SATCOM products and systems solutions.
The Industry in 2015: “Communication Breakdown” (Led Zeppelin)—As we look ahead to 2015, we see an urgent need to combat the growing threat of SATCOM cyber attacks. We’ve all heard the drumbeat of stories about corporate hacking scandals involving the theft of millions of credit card numbers. In recent months, we’ve seen data breaches affecting customers of such venerable brands as K-Mart, Staples, Home Depot, Dairy Queen, the U.S. Postal Service, and JPMorgan Chase. Less known, but equally concerning, is the vulnerability of U.S. and global SATCOMs, which could potentially affect a wide swath of government and commercial sectors.
Given how expensive and critical our satellite networks are, as highlighted in an April report by consultancy IOActive, and given the efforts of some nations to gain asymmetrical advantages over the United States and the nation’s allies, we see this as an issue that will continue to garner attention throughout 2015. The industry, as a whole, must act now to harden our SATCOM systems before a catastrophic breaches occur. The vulnerabilities in satellite communication systems must be prevented by implementing safeguards that would thwart cyber attacks and mitigate potential damage. Given our long record of serving U.S. military customers, SRT Group meets these demands by hardening our satellite modems in several ways prior to deployment.
Cybercrime poses enormous risks to global security and prosperity, but solutions are available. SRT Group is proud that our equipment includes some of the best protections in the world against these threats.
SRT in 2015: “I Can See for Miles” (The Who)—We look forward to building on our 2014 successes during 2015. While we cannot disclose all of the partnerships and new products we have in the pipeline, we are confident in saying that SRT Wireless will continue to lead the evolution of satellite communications, punching well above our weight class for a relatively small company.
Not interested in resting on our laurels, SRT Group of companies will continue to develop hardware solutions that are smaller, more powerful, and less costly than current alternatives. We will also continue to strengthen our partnerships with Thuraya and other industry leaders, and with U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, we also look forward to increasing our participation in the broader conversations surrounding satellite communications technology and policy. For example, SRT’s Chief Technology Officer, Conrad Smith, is gaining prominence as a leading voice on cyber security and satcoms. He will speak about this subject at the forthcoming Satellite 2015 conference in Washington, DC in March of next year.
All of us in the satellite communications industry should give back—not just to our employees and the communities in which we operate, but also to the industry and public at large—by providing a concrete vision on how we can ensure the safety and security of our satellite networks, even as we work to expand their capabilities and reach.
From where I sit in Broward County, Florida, I can tell you the future of the satellite communications industry is bright—and with apologies to Pete Townsend and The Who, I can see for miles and miles and miles.
John “JR” Russell serves as the CMO of SRT Group and the COO of SRT Wireless. As a pioneer in the marketing of wireless location-specific safety and security systems for consumer, commercial, and public safety applications, JR has initiated and managed successful business relationships with some of the largest global brands. At SRT Wireless, JR manages all aspects of SRT Group’s commercial and law enforcement business units.
