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Satellite Internet Cafes in Iraq and Afghanistan
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By 2004, most battalions had set up an “Internet Cafes,” usually with enough laptops and Internet connections to allow each soldier or marine at least one session a week. To make this possible, some units run their cafes 24/7. Actually, this is often necessary because many combat units operate 24/7, running day and night operations in shifts. Many troops work 12 hours on and 12 off. So a round- the- clock Internet Cafe is a necessity. Most of them use TS2’s satellite services to provide connections for soldiers.
Each Internet Cafe was basically a 640 square foot tent, or room, equipped with twenty laptop computers, eight telephones (for voice calls via the Internet), air conditioning and satellite communications gear.
Troops were allowed 20-30 minutes per session, and most just read and reply to email. But eventually, some of the Internet Cafe PCs got webcams and VOIP (telephone calls over the Internet) software. This allowed troops, who had family and friends on the other end with equivalent equipment, to see and speak with the folks back home.
Soon, most military bases in the United States and Europe had set up Internet Cafes with webcam and VOIP gear so that family can come in and hold a “televisit” with their soldier, sailor, airman or marine in Iraq. This equipment was used to show live web coverage of high school graduation ceremonies on many military bases. Parents who were stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan were able to view their kids via the Internet Cafes.