As demand for network sovereignty increases, the terminal-modem configuration enables defense and government customers to own and control critical communications infrastructure
26 August, 2026: Lite Coms, a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced tactical satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals for defense and government applications, today announced that its Lite Sat 1.3A terminal, paired with the SES Government Technology Certification (GTC) Type 2-certified Comtech SLM-5650B modem, is now available as a validated remote-terminal configuration for SES O3b mPOWER Sovereign Services and Hybrid Sovereign Gateway architectures.
Lite Coms’ Lite Sat 1.3A is a lightweight, rapidly deployable VSAT terminal engineered for expeditionary and military operations. Designed and manufactured in the United States, it delivers high-performance satellite communications in a compact, airline-checkable package. It enables reliable, high-throughput communications across X-, Ku-, and Ka- band networks, supporting forward-deployed teams, mobile command units, and austere environments.
When paired with Comtech’s SLM-5650B modem, the certified configuration delivers meaningful advantages for U.S. and coalition forces that rely on advanced connectivity capabilities for today’s all-domain operations. Working in partnership with SES, the GTC Type 2-certified Lite Coms and Comtech solution will help the Department of Defense (DoD) maintain the information advantage needed to enhance mission effectiveness and deter near-peer threats in some of the world’s most challenging operational environments.
Comtech’s SLM-5650B is a next-generation, software-defined modem widely deployed across U.S. DoD and coalition networks. As a market leading Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) certified modem, the SLM-5650B currently supports multiple critical DoD and NATO waveforms and provides a sovereign, future-ready foundation for multi-orbit SATCOM operations.
Today’s mission demands reflect a broader customer shift toward multi-orbit hybrid architectures. Simultaneously, government and defense customers are demanding greater network sovereignty. They are actively seeking solutions that allow them to own and control critical communications infrastructure, with their preferred ground-segment equipment, rather than relying solely on managed commercial services.
Purpose-built for these emerging benchmarks for effective SATCOM deployment, the SES certification of the Lite Coms Lite Sat 1.3A terminal and Comtech’s SLM-5650B modem configuration enables:
- Proven Interoperability with SES Ecosystem: Rapid field-deployment is mission-critical. Instead of evaluating and documenting individual hardware combinations themselves, customers can deploy a pre-engineered, validated solution with demonstrated SES ecosystem interoperability.
- Streamlined Procurement and Acquisition: Acquisition programs increasingly favor standardized, validated solutions over custom hardware combinations. The remote terminal-modem configuration reduces equipment integration and program risk, simplifies technical evaluation, and provides a clear route to deployment.
- Secure, High-Throughput MEO Communications: The solution helps customers adopt sovereign Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) communications more efficiently, as military users are increasingly adopting MEO, Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) together to improve resiliency, flexibility and mission assurance.
“The certification of our Lite Sat 1.3A in this terminal-modem configuration gives our government and military customers a validated, low-risk path to sovereign MEO connectivity through the SES O3b mPOWER ecosystem,” said Robert Jacobson, CEO at Lite Coms. “As network sovereignty becomes a key differentiator in battlefield superiority, we remain focused on delivering interoperable, mission-ready solutions that reduce integration burden, streamline acquisition, and enable customer control of critical communications.”
“We are honored to work with SES and Lite Coms to deliver critical sovereign SATCOM capabilities to our men and women in uniform,” said Daniel Gizinski, President of Comtech’s Satellite and Space Communications segment. “At Comtech, we’ve spent decades developing and delivering trusted, mission-critical SATCOM solutions to the U.S. DoD and our allies. This certification is a testament to what strong partnerships and shared purpose can accomplish for the customers we serve.”
By expanding the ecosystem of certified remote terminals available for SES O3b mPOWER Sovereign Services, the validated configuration helps government customers adopt sovereign MEO communications more efficiently, while lowering technical and program risk and providing clear support boundaries through a documented hardware configuration.
About Lite Coms:
Lite Coms is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced tactical satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals for defense and government applications. It has developed a portfolio of 18 systems, including man-portable, fly-away, and rapidly deployable terminals designed to deliver resilient connectivity in the most demanding operational environments that support a range of missions requiring secure, reliable, and Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications.
Lite Coms’ products are also engineered for multi-orbit, constellation-agnostic connectivity, enabling customers to leverage Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) networks rather than being limited to a single orbital architecture.
To date, Lite Coms has delivered over 10,000 multi-orbit, multi-band terminals to the field globally. Privately held, the company is headquartered in Victor, New York. For more information, please visit: https://www.litecoms.
About Comtech:
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. delivers trusted mission-critical communications solutions used by military forces, government agencies, public safety organizations, mobile network operators and communities around the world. With nearly 60 years of global communications technology leadership, Comtech provides secure, resilient systems proven to perform in the world’s most demanding environments. Through advanced satellite and space communications systems and Allerium’s Next Generation 9-1-1 emergency services and location-intelligence platforms, Comtech delivers reliable connectivity across orbit, network and ground to keep essential missions, services and communities connected when it matters most. For more information, please visit comtech.com.