Antenna Technology Communications Inc. is best known by all as ACTi and is headed up by one of the true personalities within our industry, Gary Hatch. As the CEO and President of the firm, Gary has also served as an international executive and engineer for Motorola and Telecommunications Inc./Liberty Media, as a board member for World Teleport Association (WTA), Society for Satellite Professionals (SSPI), Near Earth Investment Bankers, and Skyway Connect. We caught up with Gary to check with him on the government and military side of his successful business that’s based in Chandler, Arizona.

MilsatMagazine
Gary, ATCi has been in business for a long time — please tell about your history...

Gary Hatch
We’ve been involved with systems integration for uplink systems and of course our proprietary product, Simulsat for over 20 years. We’ve worked with broadcasters, cable operators, military/government, universities and large corporations customizing our technologies to a variety of applications over that time period. Through Simulsat, our customers are able to see 35 + satellites within a 70 degree view arc, and we have those systems installed thousands of locations worldwide. In the U.S. alone, we reach out to over 50 million cable TV subscribers. It truly is a complete solution, it’s one antenna that meets all of our customers’ needs.

MilsatMagazine
We recently read news of your Warrior system for voice, video, data and RF spectrum monitoring, can you expand on this new system?

Gary Hatch
The ability to enable surveillance of 70 satellites utilizing the footprint size of approximately two parking spaces has created an incredible tool for the U.S. Department of Defense and other like agencies worldwide. Through this system we can monitor and triangulate thousands of carriers simultaneously, and with our Sentry technology, we are able to archive, retrieve and catalog voice, data and video with a Google-like search engine.

Moreover, this system is completely integrated to bring (an associated) relationship to satellite, voice, data and video throughout the satellite arc. This automation and storage creates incredible information gathering capability which provides U.S. government, military and foreign applications the knowledge base so vital to the security of our nation.

MilsatMagazine
How long have these systems been in place?

Gary Hatch
Originally these were solely Broadcast, Cable, Telephone — and involved with pure data applications. However, governments today need the best information to make the best decisions on behalf of their citizens. The Warrior allows for the association and assimilation from hundreds of sites throughout the world into one common relational software database. Ultimately, this vital information can provide unique understanding of any and all activities carried throughout the satellites hovering around the world.

MilsatMagazine
It sounds like you’re talking about a repurpose technology for military and government applications. What will be the financial impact for your company with this new integrated surveillance system offering?

Gary Hatch
We have been involved with several defense programs over many years that has allowed us to intersect our knowledge from Broadcasters, Cable, Telephone, Data and general satellite monitoring into these critical satellite surveillance programs. This program is contained within the worldwide satellite services program and allows for fast track purchasing at feasible cost levels for these different defense applications. These are exciting projects, meaningful in every way, and we are honored to bring our best technologies to these important entities.

MilsatMagazine
The Warrior system has incredible simultaneous monitoring capabilities, what technologies have enhanced the coming forth of this system?

Gary Hatch
Number one — the growth of satellites around the world and their efficiencies, low cost storage systems, digital RF chip set systems and relational search devices that allow us to associate virtually limitless bits of information. We feel as though we bring the best of CNN, telephone companies, cable operators and defense to the intersection contained within this Warrior package and overall integration.

MilsatMagazine
Thanks, Gary. And, for our readers info, back in July of this year, ATCi completed a full year of GSM satellite operations in Iraq via Zain/Fastlink, a Kuwaiti-based global telecom firm that offers mobile telephony services thoughout MENA. ATCi has been able to complete GSM services from Iraq to anywhere in the world. Plus, ATCi is in the process of implementing additional GSM backhaul systems for implementation throughout MENA and Latin America over the upcoming years.

For additional information on ATCi’s Warrior system, select this link for a direct connect to their website.