Satellite technology is a key enabler for the enterprise market. It connects businesses that are located in remote, hard-to-reach areas and it offers a back-up solution that kicks in when other networks fail. These are true statements – but also dated ones, because satellite means much more than that.
There is a trend towards digitalization as the enterprise sector recognizes the need for transformation and to consider all connectivity options. Digitalization means that businesses are looking at ways in which they can make their operations more efficient and to deliver value to their customer. However, it’s also a concept that is disruptive, where the ’old ways’ of doing business are replaced or upgraded to facilitate better decision making, for example, or to encourage further innovation within a business.
Just last week, the ST Engineering iDirect team in collaboration with NSR, held a webinar that detailed these new innovations and the emerging trends in the enterprise sector. Our panelists, Jose Del Rosario, Research Director, NSR; Vivek Suresh Prasad, Analyst, NSR and Jean- Michel Rouylou, Head of Enterprise and Broadband, were on hand to give their knowledge and insights into Satellite’s Role in the Transformation of Enterprise Digitalization.
During the webinar, key points of discussion included how remote connectivity is affected by digitalization; the impact of key technologies on this transformation and how the entire satellite ecosystem is evolving in order to address current and next-generation requirements.
5 Key Trends
We see 5 key trends that are affecting digitalization especially as satellite is brought into the equation. These inter-relate, and each aspect impacts profoundly on other elements in an integrated solution for enterprises, as well as the overall network. They are examined in detail during the webinar and include:
SD WAN
Software-defined networking in a wide area network (SD-WAN) simplifies the management and operation of a WAN by decoupling the networking hardware from its control mechanism. For satellite solutions, meeting SD-WAN networking requirements is and will become easier as it will be critical for extracting the most value from seamless integration with terrestrial networks, multi-orbit constellations and end-to-end QoE.
Edge Computing
Edge computing has always been a key feature of satellite solutions given that equipment in remote areas has the core mission of providing a communications pipe to create new and improved ways for enterprise sites to maximize operational efficiency, improve performance and safety, automate core business processes, and ensure “always on” availability.
Such a solution brings computation and data storage closer to the “edge” so that satellite connectivity solutions can be used. As such, satellite ground segment providers need to integrate cloud-based solutions that account for edge computing.
Today, Service Providers are starting to leverage Edge computing as part of their networks. A polling among 110 representatives of SPs and Telcos showed that around 70 % are seeing SD-WAN & Edge Computing as an important part of their future enterprise satellite network and are working on solutions already today.
Data Analytics
The influx of data analytics applications are enabled in tandem by the growing adoption of cloud computing services that help optimize business performance and the bottom lines of various players in the satellite ecosystem. Data analytics applications will drive real time management of the most remote location, only accessible by satellite.
5G
5G provides unique opportunities and positions satellite as an integral component for supporting new and mission-critical use cases such as IoT, thus impacting how networks are architected and how future business models are developed. Virtualization, cloudification together with 5G will redefine how network capabilities are procured and where Infrastructure-as-a-Service will become highly compelling.
Private LTE
Private LTE, a standards-based connectivity option designed to serve enterprises, government entities as well as educational institutions, leads to customized solutions with optimized network performance. Satellites can provide ideal solutions for rolling out private LTE networks.
Take what you need
All of these technological ingredients will be blended together in the optimal way so that businesses of all kinds, with different and unique requirements, can take advantage of the benefits that they bring. By mixing and matching 5G, SD-WAN and private LTE, businesses can gain access to maximum connectivity for a variety of simple and complex use cases enabled by Edge Computing and the power of Data Analytics. This optimizes applications, Quality of Experience, speeds up deployment of new services and applications and provides deeper insight and tools to analyze data for more informed decision making. And satellite is a key enabler. It’s a winning combination.
You can also view the NSR whitepaper here.
Watch the full webinar on-demand here:
