Transforming enterprise satellite communications and data center connectivity

As technology leaders in enterprises strive to integrate emerging technology into operational goals, one emerging solution to high-latency and limited terrestrial coverage takes center stage: Low-Earth Orbit satellites (LEOs). Many of their counterparts are incorporating LEOs into their global technology matrix to access less-connected markets.

According to Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Intelligence, a recent study showed that almost half (43%) of enterprises have put satellite technology just under 5G on their list of technology plans.¹

What’s driving this interest?

An emerging partnership between telcos and satellite distribution channels
Direct-to-device connectivity, enabling greater tracking and usage of internet of things (IoT) endpoints

In this blog, we’ll present practical strategies, trends, and applications of LEO satellite technology for the expansion of enterprise connectivity and development globally. Key points we’ll cover include:

Even though there are now hybrid solutions, there’s been a clear shift from geostationary to LEO satellites
What’s driving the shift and why it’s a global movement with highly practical applications in Africa
Innovations in reducing latency by leveraging satellite networks
Digital Realty’s approach to data center satellite connectivity

The fundamentals for global satellite connectivity

An emerging trend marks LEO satellite technology as one of the keys to digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) driven innovation, operational efficiency, and more. Three key points about LEOs:

Closer to earth equals lower latency. They differ from traditional ones in that they orbit less than 2,000 km above the Earth’s surface. Traditional, or geostationary orbit satellites (GEOs) orbit within 35,786 km.²
Removes barriers to market development. LEOs and their proximity to earth offer benefits perfect for solving the challenges that once hindered growth in remote areas: latency, low connectivity, high investment costs.
Emerging industry with high growth potential. Within 10 years, satellite connectivity will generate more than $30 billion per year.³

From geostationary to Low-Earth Orbit: the evolution of satellite technology

Geostationary satellites initially served enterprise needs like cloud computing and weather monitoring. LEO satellites now enable faster applications including video calls, financial services, and autonomous vehicle communications.

Here’s how LEOs stack up with other satellite systems and the ways the technology on the ground enables the advantages of LEOs.

Low-Earth Orbit vs. traditional systems

Anything with low-latency as a mission-critical part of operations sees the use of LEO connectivity as the best option for current and future growth. While best used for large-area coverage, GEO systems lack the latency and connectivity driving the growing use of LEO satellites.

Ensuring your business is connected with the right infrastructure provider is essential for network optimization. This collaboration is crucial for enhancing performance, reducing latency, and achieving secure, scalable growth.

Connectivity optimization

Network points of presence (PoPs): LEO satellites require seamless handoffs between PoPs on the ground to maintain its low-latency advantage, but only when done in concert with a data center provider with a global infrastructure ecosystem.

Key features of network PoPs include:

Physical infrastructure (data center)
Interconnection with ISPs, CDNs, and enterprise networks
Seamless data exchange between networks, placed in optimal locations for end users to experience low latency

Ground stations with antennas to receive satellite signals, have on average 20 to 30 minutes of LEO satellite visibility. These satellites move quickly since they’re closer to Earth, making it imperative that the amount of ground stations is sufficient to facilitate accurate handoffs between satellites and network PoPs. Digital Realty’s global ecosystem supports network PoPs for alignment with LEOs, enabling extended, dependable coverage from satellite technology.

PoP network optimization: In addition to tracking, once data is in the associated ground station, it must rely on a solid network to retain its latency benefits.

These ground stations use antennas to track the LEO satellites. Where ground stations are located in relation to the antennas, as well as the density of stations within a connected area (multi-site per country), has a large impact on the effectiveness, reliability, and latency of the interconnection.

These three elements encompass a dependence on cutting-edge technology, requiring:

Unobstructed ground stations with solid connectivity
Reliable satellite links (using antennas and other connectivity methods)
Algorithms to assist in managing communications and monitoring between the ground stations and satellites

It takes these elements operating on a fully optimized level to retain the benefits of LEO satellites.

Digital Realty's ground station integration

Since ground stations exist as a critical connection between satellites and connectivity partners, Digital Realty focusses on antenna sites in combination with network points of presence (PoPs) in the data center facility to ensure their effectiveness.

Roof rights

When using antennas to monitor and receive transmissions from satellites, their location takes the highest priority. An antenna on the ground, surrounded by high-rise buildings simply won’t work.

Digital Realty, in many cases, has opted for placing antennas on the roofs of its existing data centers, either directly on the roof or on pedestals. This is an effective solution when it utilizes otherwise empty exterior space. Many of these data centers, however, often have other equipment occupying space on the roofs of their facilities: cooling equipment, redundancy systems. In such instances, it’s preferable to favor using Teleports.

Teleports

Teleports, land dedicated to antennas receiving satellite data, provide an alternative to roof rights. This solution provides the most effective, unobstructed, and dedicated source for connecting the LEOs to the ground station. However, unless the land is already owned, this solution does present a much higher cost than repurposing the roof of an already existing data center facility.

An example of teleports in action is where Digital Realty rents the first floor of a parking lot near one of its data centers to use as a teleport for satellite antennas. This not only provides an unobstructed site for connectivity but also ensures a low-latency connection with the existing ground station. In other locations, Digital Realty uses existing available land plots or containers to raise the antennas.

Standardization initiatives

Digital Realty’s focus is on creating a consistent customer experience across our global footprint. Many LEO providers have different requirements. That’s why we’re creating a standardized process for access to roof rights and teleports.

Digital Realty's strategic network in developing nations

Digital Realty showcases its satellite connectivity capabilities around the globe, in particular on the continent of Africa. Satellite technology plays a major part in bringing Africa closer to goals of expanded connectivity and greater digital access, especially to rural and less-developed parts of the continent where there’s limited terrestrial and mobile infrastructure.

The Digital Realty global ecosystem allows enterprises to benefit from an expanded list of locations on the gateway between Africa and Europe. Key locations for satellite connectivity include Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique and South Africa.

The advantage lies in the multi-teleport strategy, placing teleports of antennas in the best locations to keep our connectivity value chain compact and effective for enterprises.

This approach makes the value chain weather-resilient, contributing greatly to the uptime confidence factor even amid natural disasters, grid reliance issues, and economic uncertainties.

Potential applications

Agriculture: LEO-driven connectivity for Internet of things (IoT) devices monitoring changes in crop conditions
Healthcare: clinics in even the most remote parts of Africa could have access to modern solutions affecting the health of residents
Business Operations: enterprises can expand their operations without geographic barriers, leveraging high-speed internet services for use of cloud, IoT, and low-latency communications

What’s next for leveraging LEO satellites for enterprise growth

At one time, mobile technology appeared to be the only feasible gateway to internet access for many areas of the world, especially developing nations in Africa. Now, with the growth of LEO satellite technology on the continent, less-connected areas of the world and the enterprises partnering with them to drive economic advancements, can enjoy the same level of connectivity other economies experience today.

Through Digital Realty’s leadership, we’re setting a standard of excellence and solid digital infrastructure to enhance the lives of developing nations and to boost economic growth through technology. Delivering a secure and open meeting place accelerating collaboration, innovation, and growth.

Learn more about how Digital Realty can help your organization grow and innovate today.