U.S. federal officials Wednesday awarded two-dozen communications businesses with contracts valued at $750 million for next-generation worldwide satellite communications services and applications.

The awards for the so-called Satcom-II program will cover transport services, application services such as distance learning and emergency communications, as well as design, engineering and maintenance for the next five years, officials at the U.S. General Services Administration announced.

Satellite communications are already provided through a series of contracts to 135 government agencies in 190 countries under the Satcom I program, which is valued at about $400 million over the past six years, GSA officials said.

The new set of contracts will continue to allow agencies to work directly with vendors and suppliers to meet their needs for daily demands and emergency communications, said John Johnson, assistant GSA commissioner for integrated technology services.

Some satellite services provide primary communications links, such as those used by wilderness firefighters, rescue crews and some military personnel, he explained. However, they can also work as a backup to traditional wireless and wire-line networks.

"We use satellite services in very diverse ways," Johnson said in a conference call with reporters.

Jim Russo, program manager for Satcom-II, said the technologies envisioned in coming years cover a "wide mix" of hardware and described a range of devices commonly used, such as satellite phones and Very Small Aperture Terminal dishes that communicate with geosynchronous and geostationary satellites in space. He said thousands of government workers use communications over satellites every day for distance learning and communications.

The Satcom-II award recipients include large and small businesses. The large business recipients are Americom Government Services, Arrowhead Global Solutions, ARTEL, AT&T, DRS Technical Services, Electronic Data Systems, Global Communications Solutions, Hughes Network Systems, Intelsat General, Mackay Communications, Segovia, Stratos Mobile Network, TeleCommunication Systems, Telenor Satellite Services and ViaSat.

The small business awardees are CVG, DasNet, E&E Enterprises Global, Knight Sky Consulting and Associates, New Orleans Teleport, Psi Systems, RiteNet, Satellite Communication Systems, and Skjei Telecom.

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