Reticulate Micro, Inc. has announced the company has successfully demo’d what the firm believes to be the first-ever, real-time video streaming over the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) tactical satellite network for a U.S. Special Operations organization.
The joint U.S. Army live training exercise included Reticulate and its partners, NanTenna, LLC, and Curtiss-Wright. The teams integrated Reticulate Micro’s VAST video encoder and Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions’ PacStar® Modular Radio Center to deliver live video for the first time over unbonded but Type 1 encrypted MUOS narrowband channels.
Despite the constrained bandwidth, the combined solution delivered minimal delay and clear picture quality, demonstrating the potential of live video over MUOS SATCOM systems.
The latest demonstration follows a U.S. Army demonstration of VAST over UHF TACSAT in February, conducted in partnership with NanTenna. Input from this and other demos is guiding Reticulate’s product roadmap, as it looks to add new features and functionality to meet the U.S. military’s mobile comms requirements.
“We demonstrated a complete point-to-point, real-time full-motion video session over MUOS in both static and on-the-move scenarios,” said Brian Hawkins, principal architect, Reticulate Micro, who conducted the video at a U.S. Army site. “Overall reactions from the customer were extremely positive, with invites back for follow-on exercises.”
“We are proud of our team that executed this powerful demonstration,” said Joshua Cryer, president and CEO, Reticulate Micro. “Along with our partners, NanTenna and Curtiss-Wright, we continue to make history together with low-latency and high-quality voice and video.”
Thomas Larkin, president of NanTenna, considers the MUOS demonstration a huge leap forward in narrowband SATCOM capabilities. “As more and more users are allocated MUOS connectivity, it is imperative that we, as an industry, offer end-to-end solutions to maximize its utility value to the warfighter. This demonstrates that our existing technologies can provide high-quality, low-latency video, even in the most challenging environments,” he said.
“Curtiss-Wright is dedicated to developing small form factor rugged tactical communications solutions for the US DOD and our allies,” said Brian Perry, senior vice president and general manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “By pairing our PacStar® Modular Radio Center and Modular Data Center with components from defense industry-leading partners like Reticulate Micro and NanTenna, we are able to extend C2 networks with simultaneous voice, video, and mission data anywhere within the worldwide coverage area of MUOS.”
About Reticulate Micro, Inc.
Reticulate Micro Inc. is a commercial and defense software technology company dedicated to delivering trusted and resilient communications at the network edge. Reticulate specializes in software-defined video compression and streaming solutions and agile, simplified device monitoring and management. Led by tactical communications veterans and satellite and software visionaries, Reticulate delivers resiliency and intelligence on the ground for the military, first responders, critical infrastructure, and enterprise users. We work with an ecosystem of channel and technology partners to bring the most powerful solutions to market across electronic warfare, tactical communications and streaming media technology.