Government Networks Intelsat 18 courtesy of Orbital Sciences. Satellite: first choice for government networks Worldwide, governments have turned to satellite networks for a variety of dif ferent reasons whether that is to link far flung governmental of fices, to re-establish communications in the af termath of a disaster or to monitor the ef fect of climate change on the earth. Helen Jameson looks at how governments are using satellite today. Advanced satellite broadband networks comprise an important part of governmental communications. Governments have always been a principal customer of the satellite industry. There are so many different applications that satellites are used for today and the world's population rely upon the services that are provided by their local and national government. These services include everything from health, education, law, order and justice, welfare and benefit systems to the collection of refuse and the fighting of wars. The systems in place to facilitate these services are extremely important and must support this wide spectrum of requirements. To make this happen, the network used by a government must be fast, reliable, scalable, interoperable and most of all, secure. The network must give access to all applications in geographically dispersed locations wherever and whenever they may be required such as voice, data and video and all this must be achieved in a timely, cost-effective and efficient way. The bedrock of these networks is satellite technology. The power of satellite can have a profound effect on a plethora of government services whether they are social, scientific, political or economic. E-Government The Internet is revolutionising government services across the world. Most of us are familiar with and have used at some point, the Internet to access these services. Now we can file our tax returns, pay road tax, or even renew our library books at the click of a mouse. Cer- 22 w w w.satellite-evolution.com | January/February 2009 government.p65 22 11/02/2009, 15:08