Teleport Program

The Teleport Program, managed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative focused on acquiring, modernizing, and sustaining joint satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities. Its primary goal is to ensure that warfighters whether deployed by air, land, or sea maintain secure, reliable connectivity to the DoD Information Network (DoDIN) and the Defense Information System Network (DISN). The Teleport system provides access to essential DISN services, including SIPRNet, NIPRNet, Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN), Defense Switched Network (DSN), and enterprise voice services. This connectivity is vital for mission command, intelligence dissemination, and operational coordination.

The DoD Teleport Technology Refresh/Technology Insertion line item supports the ongoing replacement of end-of-life equipment and the integration of next-generation technologies at Teleport SATCOM sites. In FY 2026, this effort expands to 16 sites due to the consolidation of legacy STEP and SATCOM Gateway programs under Teleport, enabling a unified architecture and reducing equipment duplication. Key objectives include refreshing SATCOM earth terminal radio frequency (RF) equipment, system servers, routers, switches, firewalls, modems, and encryption devices. These upgrades address performance, cybersecurity, and maintainability concerns, ensuring the system remains resilient and reliable for global warfighter communications.

The Integrated Waveform (IW) and Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Legacy Gateway Component (MLGC) expansion are focused on enhancing interoperability between legacy Ultra High Frequency (UHF) SATCOM users and next-generation MUOS users. Many DoD users have not transitioned to MUOS, necessitating the deployment of interoperability solutions. In FY 2026, funding supports the integration and operationalization of seven allied MLGCs at Joint SATCOM Teleport sites, complementing existing U.S. MLGC subsystems and supporting coalition operations. The IW upgrade also improves bandwidth efficiency, making better use of limited UHF SATCOM resources.

The Teleport Resilient Ground Infrastructure (RGI) initiative, launched in response to the DoD Gateway Optimization and Resiliency (GOaR) Study, represents a major investment in SATCOM ground infrastructure. RGI aims to modernize 16 existing Teleport sites and establish 18 new ones, increasing the total to 34 global sites. Objectives include procuring enterprise SATCOM modems, integrating Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, expanding L-Band switching systems, and relocating wideband terminals. These enhancements are designed to improve redundancy, survivability, and path diversity, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity even if individual sites are compromised.

The Standardized Tactical Entry Point (STEP) Technology Refresh and SATCOM Gateway line items previously supported technology upgrades at SATCOM gateways and STEP sites. In FY 2024, these efforts focused on hardware refreshes and systems integration to meet increased mission requirements. Starting in FY 2025, these programs were converged under the Teleport architecture, streamlining procurement and operational management. This consolidation allows DISA to leverage common equipment and funding profiles, further enhancing efficiency and reducing redundancy across the SATCOM enterprise.

The SATCOM Ordering Management & Situational Awareness Tool (SOMSAT)/Joint Management Tool (JMT) was developed as a web-based application to streamline customer ordering and management of satellite resources. In FY 2024, funding supported the continued development and integration of legacy management tools into SOMSAT/JMT. By FY 2025, the tool transitioned to sustainment. This application enables centralized ordering, data analytics, and automated provisioning, improving DISA's ability to support global SATCOM requirements.