COMMUNICATION
Satellite Communication
_The DGA has acquired its own military communications satellites and laid down the foundations for a secure information network for use by units on deployed missions outside France. The network supports the autonomous, global transmission of audio and data as well as video and multimedia applications. France has access to some of the world's most sophisticated communication satellites and has one of the world's largest and most modern facilities to provide cutting-edge communication between its military commands. The DGA can provide friendly nations with (limited) access to this concept for network-centric operations. Satellite communications are the only way of ensuring information can be transmitted flexibly without having to rely on the infrastructure in the theatre of operations. The communications are also heavily encrypted; satellite communication is also considered more difficult to intercept and therefore offers more secure transmission of confidential information than other communication options. As the DGA continues to expand the leading position of France in this field and will fuirther expand the amount of data that can be transmitted, the service is also being offered to foreign customers.