Fred Kornberg, CEO, Comtech
Since completing the acquisition of Radyne Corp. in August 2008, Comtech Telecommunications Corp. CEO Fred Kornberg has been able to combine the two component manufacturers into a dominant presence in their markets.
Since integrating the two companies, Comtech has more than doubled the size of its RF microwave amplifiers, expanding products and services in its mobile data communications segment, and expanded addressable markets. Comtech also made moves to refine its focus, selling assets relating to its Tiernan-branded video encoder and decoder product lines. The moves paid off, as Comtech booked record orders of $883.8 million in its 2009 fiscal year and enters 2010 with a backlog of $549.8 million.
Comtech also has introduced new technology for its customers, and in 2009, invested a record $65 million in research and development projects, a 35 percent increase over the previous year. The company’s DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier technology provides a 50 percent increase in satellite bandwidth efficiency in some military and Radyne modems. VersaFEC is an advanced forward error correction feature that, when combined with adaptive coding and modulation, can provide up to a 100 percent increase in data throughput in a satellite link.
Comtech also expanded its presence in the military market, developing next-generation movement tracking system and Blue Force technology solutions to provide the U.S. Army with the most advanced satellite-based mobile network communications and tracking capability. The Army awarded Comtech an $8 million order to build and begin testing Blue Force Tracking High-Capacity prototype units.
Subsidiary AeroAstro received a contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop small satellites and payloads that they can be assembled and launched in a matter of days.
Peter Shaper, CEO, CapRock Communications
CapRock Communications posted revenues of $358 million in 2009, up more than 20 percent from the prior year and an indicator of the work CEO Peter Shaper has put into developing CapRock’s business portfolio since joining the company in 2002.
On the commercial side, Shaper oversaw product expansion that helped CapRock post 54 percent revenue growth in value-added products. Among the initiatives driving this are an IPTV crew infotainment solution that received its first order prior to its official launch and a customer portal for government clients that allows them to schedule and track bandwidth usage.
Shaper also built on CapRock’s acquisition of Arrowhead Global Solutions, as CapRock’s government-related revenues jumped 35 percent. The company captured a task order under the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) Satellite Transmission Services-Global (DSTS-G) contract to provide the Iraqi Ministry of Defense an end-to-end VSAT network solution, increasing CapRock’s responsibility from two networks and 38 sites to five networks and more than 150 terminals. CapRock also expanded its work under the DISN Access Transport Services (DATS) Contract. The effort to support the Defense Department’s telecom requirements and demand for high-capacity bandwidth represents more than 25 percent of the government division’s revenue, compared to 4 percent when the contract was acquired as part of Arrowhead. Shaper also was instrumental in leading CapRock to make upfront investments in commercial X-band service, and in 2009, the company deployed 200MHz of capacity.
The government team also launched CommandAccess, a military-grade commercial subscription service similar to those offered to CapRock commercial customers.
Shaper also expanded CapRock’s business around the globe, entering and providing service in 35 new countries.
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