INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: SWE-DISH Satellite Systems
Lars Jehrlander
Chief Executive Officer
SWE-DISH Satellite Systems
Q: SWE-DISH was the first company to introduce a fully integrated IP satellite terminal. That terminal, the IPT Suitcase, became a success much bigger than you anticipated. Why?
A: That is true. We really opened that market, which was non-existent five years ago. So it was hard for us to estimate what the reaction would be. The IPT Suitcase was originally targeted to the commercial market, but we quickly realized that it was also being embraced by the military and SOF in the U.S., then the rest of the world quickly followed.
The reason for its success is because it fulfilled their need for a small broadband satellite terminal. It is extremely portable, very durable and can be quickly deployed in the most remote places. And it’s very easy to use; in fact it’s designed for one-man operation. SOF had never seen anything like it. Then once they discovered what it was capable of they requested even more bandwidth, which we continue to increase along with the number of applications. So it’s our customers who are driving product evolution. It’s really quite amazing and the reason we continue to be the world’s number one in this market.
Q: Would you say these close relationships are the reason SOF hold SWE-DISH in such high regard?
A: One of them, yes. SOF are an extremely important reference for us. We gain a lot from their experiences. For instance, we recently received orders from the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the Nordic Battle Group. So we will stay very close with them, listen to their demands and stay close with service. If the relationship ends when the product is delivered, so too does the learning.
So we listen carefully to what they have to say about how we can improve our products and service. We have been working closely with our customers since we founded SWE-DISH thirteen years ago. We were in Asia after the tsunami and in New Orleans after Katrina. And we will continue to be there when our customers need us. Our people have been all over the world providing support and learning how we can make the best possible terminals.
Q: You just introduced something called CommuniCase Technology. What is it and why is it important?
A: CommuniCase Technology is the technological platform for future generations of SWE-DISH satellite terminals. It is based on our experience with the IPT Suitcase over the past five years. It is an entirely new modular platform that improves mobility and creates the ability to interchange parts. Imagine being able to divide a suitcase terminal into two pieces and check it as luggage, or into three pieces and carry them on the plane. You can do that with this technology.
Perhaps the biggest benefit is the ability to easily switch modems and transceivers from system to system. So you can create a number of terminals based on what you want to achieve. By simply replacing the transceiver, any CommuniCase terminal can change from one frequency band to another in minutes. For example, a government user could operate on a Ku-band commercial satellite then quickly switch to a government owned Ka-band satellite. This also offers tremendous cost advantages for our customers because they wouldn’t need to buy complete systems in the future. They could purchase a suitcase terminal today then add a drive-away unit tomorrow and use the modem, base unit and transceiver from the suitcase.
CommuniCase Technology offers several advancements such as an enhanced user interface, and is the perfect complement to the IPT Suitcase. Our end users will now have more choices than before, but more importantly, this demonstrates to them that we are continually thinking ahead.
Q: Which SWE-DISH products will be the first to use CommuniCase Technology?
A: The Suitcase CCT90 terminal is being launched now and will drive the demand for CCT. It will be initially dedicated to the military market and our SOF customers. Everything we have learned from their experience with the IPT the past five years is in this unit, so we know they will appreciate what it can do.
Like the IPT, the CCT90 is the fastest-to-air terminal in the world and can be fully deployed in less than five minutes. Its ease of use is unsurpassed and it weighs just 75 pounds, so it’s remarkably portable. Again, it could be your carry-on luggage. We will then introduce a drive-away system, the CCT120, which will be targeted to the government and commercial sectors. ♦