The primary objective of Standardized Tactical Entry Point (STEP) is to extend DISN services into the tactical theater to provide initial connectivity between the deployed warfighter and sustaining base.

DISN services will include Defense Switched Network

Defense Switched Network

The Defense Switched Network is a primary information transfer network for the Defense Information Systems Network . The DSN provides the worldwide non-secure voice, secure voice, data, facsimile, and video teleconferencing services for DOD Command and Control elements, their supporting...

, DRSN, JWICS, SIPRNET

SIPRNet

The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment"...

, NIPRNET

NIPRNet

The Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network is used to exchange sensitive but unclassified information between "internal" users as well as providing users access to the Internet. NIPRNet is composed of Internet Protocol routers owned by the United States Department of Defense...

 and VTC

VTC

VTC may stand for:*Vesicular-tubular cluster, an organelle of some eukaryotic cells*Video Tele Conference*Visual Terminal Chart, the Australian term for a Terminal area chart...

. Today this connectivity is established via SHF

SHF

SHF may refer to:* Super high frequency, radio frequencies in the range of 3 GHz and 30 GHz* Société de l'histoire de France, a society formed in 1833 to study French history* Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, a mid-1970s country-rock band....

 (X band

X band

The X band is a segment of the microwave radio region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, such as in communication engineering, the frequency range of X band is rather indefinitely set at approximately 7.0 to 11.2 gigahertz . In radar engineering, the frequency range is specified...

) DSCS satellites. Once tactical forces begin deploying tri-band satellite systems, C and K_u capability will be added.