AstraPNT

Government Networks for National Security and Emergency Response 

Governments require ultra-secure, sovereign communications for mission-critical operations where data integrity is essential. In partnership with trusted defence contractors and licensed government service providers, Eutelsat delivers high-speed, low-latency LEO connectivity with enhanced data assurance, encryption and protective features for reliable communications in contested environments.

The Challenge: Cyber Security Across Contested Environments

Defence and security operations face unprecedented cyber threats that target data transmission at every stage—from initial capture through to storage and network interconnection. In contested environments, adversaries deploy sophisticated electronic warfare systems to jam communications, spoof GNSS signals and intercept sensitive information. The interference can create denied areas across the electromagnetic spectrum that degrade command and control capabilities.

The operational risks are acute:

  • High-speed data transmission under fire: Military forces require consistent, real-time connectivity across land, maritime and airborne platforms to sustain situational awareness and coordinate rapid response
  • Security blind spots during transmission: Customers using networks such as the internet, which is considered untrusted and insecure, introduce vulnerabilities where data integrity cannot be guaranteed. This exposes sensitive information to interception or manipulation precisely when mission success depends on more secure channels
  • Traffic disruption and detection risks: Large-scale electronic warfare targets both communications and positioning systems, degrading platforms, disrupting logistics coordination and increasing the risk that emitting systems will be detected

When terrestrial networks fail or become compromised in hostile zones, forces lose the ability to transmit intelligence, coordinate operations and maintain the communication superiority essential to mission effectiveness and personnel safety.

The Need: Sovereign Wireless Network Infrastructure

Defence and security authorities require a global capability with interoperable, rapidly deployable connectivity that can withstand interference, eavesdropping and hostile disruption. In critical environments they need communications with more sovereign control over management of the encryption, data routing and subscriber authentication for the network, as well as the ability to operate independently of shared public infrastructure.

Critical technical requirements include:

  • Local Home Subscriber Server (HSS) for secure, in-country storage and management of subscriber authentication data
  • Scalable encryption that ensures all data is encrypted both at rest and in transit
  • Sovereign-owned infrastructure that isolates mission-critical traffic from commercial and public internet paths
  • GNSS obfuscation and masking ensures sensitive operations can be performed without risk of location being exposed

These capabilities ensure that users can maintain operational continuity, data integrity and secure network access even in contested or denied environments.

The Solution: Secure Private Satellite Networks with VPN Encryption

Eutelsat has partnered with licensed government contractors and world leaders in telecommunications software to design sovereign communications networks within short timeframes. A range of solutions can deliver a private network architecture built on LEO, bonded or multi-orbit resilience, combining different orbital capabilities to ensure reliable connectivity and quality of service in contested environments. A LEO system is inherently more resilient to hostile behaviours such as jamming or spoofing. Each one of the more than 600 satellites in our constellation is constantly on the move, switching frequencies every ~11 seconds as they hand on to the next.

Key components include:

  • Private PoPs per service domain equipped with GNSS obfuscation and local Home Subscriber Server (HSS) for enhanced data protection
  • Type-approved ruggedised terminals designed for rapid deployment across land fixed, land mobility and maritime defence missions
  • AstraPNT for alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing when GNSS is unavailable
  • Undisclosed Mode to obfuscate user terminal location information during tactical operations
  • Global capabilities to assist end-to-end, secure, private, encrypted traffic between sites anywhere in the world for mission-critical voice, video and data flows

The architecture supports VPN encryption across satellite paths, maintaining secure, low-latency channels for mission-critical voice, video and data flows.

For more on Eutelsat's capabilities, explore our private network solutions.

Benefits and Impact: Examples of Operational Excellence

Eutelsat's sovereign and private network solutions deliver measurable operational advantages for defence and security missions and emergency response units:

  • Secure, resilient global communications with assured coverage, maintaining continuity even when terrestrial infrastructure fails or is compromised
  • Enhanced digital scope to modernise government services, enabling real-time data exchange and improved situational awareness across land, sea and air domains
  • Improved decision-making for national security, surveillance and emergency response coordination, powered by low-latency LEO connectivity
  • Reduced risk from downtime on public internet networks, with private PoPs and multi-orbit architectures providing independent failure domains
  • Operational efficiency gains through faster deployment, automated provisioning and reduced mission planning complexity

These outcomes enable defence agencies to maintain information superiority and mission readiness, even under contested or degraded conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a government private network?

  • Eutelsat's defence deployment provides a clear example of a turnkey government private network in action. The solution combines low Earth orbit satellite connectivity with dedicated private points of presence (PoPs) for individual service branches, each equipped with GNSS obfuscation to keep private data private. Local Home Subscriber Server (HSS) protection ensures sensitive subscriber data remains under sovereign control, whilst ruggedised, type-approved terminals enable secure communications across land, sea and air operations. This architecture supports high-speed, on-the-move data transmission for tactical deployment, delivering the resilience and encryption layers that defence authorities require. Such use cases demonstrate how private network infrastructure can be tailored to meet the unique operational and security demands of government missions in contested environments.

What are the disadvantages of using public networks for defence?

  • Public networks like the internet introduce significant vulnerabilities for defence operations. Shared infrastructure exposes sensitive communications to potential interception and cyber threats, precisely when data integrity cannot be compromised. Unlike dedicated systems, public networks lack sovereign control—meaning routing, encryption standards and access policies are managed by commercial operators who may not align with national security requirements. Service disruption becomes a critical risk in conflict zones where adversaries can target or degrade shared infrastructure to disrupt command-and-control channels. For defence and security authorities operating in hostile or covert environments, the absence of guaranteed encryption, priority access and operational sovereignty makes public network reliance a strategic liability.

How does a private network differ from a public network for government use?

  • The fundamental difference lies in control, security and operational assurance. A private network provides dedicated infrastructure that government agencies own or manage directly, enabling end-to-end encryption, sovereign data handling and customised access restrictions. This ensures sensitive information never traverses shared, commercial pathways where it might be exposed to external threats. Private networks also deliver guaranteed service levels, priority bandwidth and rapid failover mechanisms tailored to mission-critical requirements. Each access point is authenticated and monitored, supporting strict compliance with defence and security standards. In contrast, public networks rely on shared routing, variable quality of service and third-party governance, making them unsuitable for operations where confidentiality, resilience and absolute reliability are non-negotiable.

How do companies deliver secure government private network solutions?

  • Delivering secure government private networks requires certified partnerships, sovereign infrastructure and proven operational frameworks. Eutelsat works with licensed government contractors and telecommunications software providers to design and deploy networks that meet stringent defence and security requirements. Service providers build dedicated ground segments, including private PoPs and local HSS components, to ensure subscriber data remains within national boundaries and under government control. Ruggedised, type-approved hardware is deployed for field operations, supporting rapid installation whilst maintaining encryption and access controls. Security monitoring is embedded throughout, with real-time visibility, predictive failover and compliance with regulatory frameworks. By integrating multi-orbit satellite connectivity—combining GEO and LEO capabilities—service providers eliminate single points of failure and sustain operations even during extreme disruption.

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