”Life is not an IKEA catalogue”, goes the joke in parody videos online as a large dog urinates on the carpet of an immaculate bedroom. But the catalogue of the popular Swedish furniture maker is an excellent way of understanding how EDA’s EU
SatCom Market project works.
EU governments, militaries and other users can browse and select from a variety of SatCom services and equipment to obtain what they need in support of a specific task, be it operations in the Sahel or secure communications during a high-level summit
meeting, says Heinrich Krispler.
“Whether it’s a centralised phone system, satellite terminals, or a subscription for broadband internet, the process is designed to be user-friendly, fast, cost-effective and efficient,” he asserts. “If a desired item is not listed
in our service and price catalogue, EDA conducts market research and feasibility studies to provide exactly what the customer requires.”
Customers can choose from a plethora of services, such as raw bandwidth in various frequency bands (L, C, Ku and Ka), satellite phones, and many more. Each service is detailed with service features, terms and conditions and a price tag, ensuring transparency
and ease of selection. This approach not only streamlines procurement but also ensures competitive pricing by regularly updating the catalogue and maintaining a thorough market overview.
Since its inception in 2009, the EU SatCom Market project has grown significantly, now involving 36 contributing members. It supports various missions and operations, including those in Ukraine and other Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions
and operations. “For example, broadband communications and a restricted CIS infrastructure between Brussels and EU training missions are facilitated through this framework,” Krispler explains.
‘We lower prices where we can’
One of the reasons for the success of EDA’s project is the high demand for reliable SatCom services in areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable or unreliable. Satellite communication has proven to be a vital alternative, offering consistent
service worldwide, including in remote and challenging environments.
It is also cheaper to work through EDA and shows one of the classic benefits of EU defence cooperation. “We are one of the largest satellite customers in Europe, so we can obtain the best prices for Member States. They would not get that by own
contracting directly,” Krispler says. “Perhaps like IKEA, we are hard to beat on price,” he says.
“We allow commanders in the field to make quick decisions based on real-time data,” Krispler says. “To give you an idea, drones connected via satellites can provide immediate surveillance results, which are then integrated into the common
operational picture and lead to information and decision superiority. That’s the kind of rapid information exchange that really makes a difference in the effectiveness of military operations,” he adds.