Launching a New IT Blueprint for Multi-Orbit Satellites
Recent advances in satellite technology, primarily driven by the low-earth orbit (LEO) sector and the ability for satellites to connect directly with ordinary mobile devices, have spurred a pioneering new phase of satellite communications that expands its service scope and integrates deeper into telecom networks.
Satellites have always played an important role in global communications, particularly in broadcast TV, navigation systems and back-up connectivity. However, the higher latency of geostationary (GEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites compared with terrestrial networks have limited their use in real-time advanced communications.
LEO satellites operate much closer to Earth, resulting in lower latencies that are comparable to fiber and 5G networks. But due to their small size and shorter life span, the sheer cost of launching and maintaining these networks has held back their widespread commercial use – until recently.
Ready for Launch
Lower cost launches from big tech companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, are proving to be a game changer for LEO, and will spur many operators around the world to launch thousands of satellites over the next 10 years. This is in addition to the thousands already in orbit around the planet.
LEO networks are also driving innovations in GEO and MEO satellite networks as the entire industry prepares for a radical transformation in how it offers, packages and delivers communications services to its diverse and growing customer base – consumers, enterprises and wholesale partners (including telecom operators).
This opens the door for satellite operators in any orbit, and multi-orbit, to play a greater role in bridging the digital divide and will equip many vertical industries with high-quality and mission-critical communications services anywhere in the world.
New IT Challenges
The demands of highly dynamic LEO satellite networks place requirements on the IT environment that are above and beyond any modern telco. LEOs are in constant motion as they rapidly orbit Earth about every 90 minutes and connect to many ground stations all over the world, including terminals that are also moving on planes and ships. The service quality changes with this motion – for example, when LEO satellites are close to the equator the latency is very low. When at the poles, the latency is much higher. The result is a multi-dimensional array of constantly changing values:
- Different satellite links
- Different terrestrial terminals
- Constantly changing service topology
- Changing thresholds for assurance depending on location
This cannot be supported by existing IT operations environments, thereby limiting the ability of satellite operators to guarantee service levels and quality.
In addition, satellite operators need to serve a complex global customer base with compelling and diverse offers and unique requirements to maximize the value from their significant infrastructure investments. Delivering global services means conforming to the unique regulatory, financial and service requirements around the world.
In addition, all satellite operators will need a new way to engage with their customers in a more digital way through intuitive portals and self-service capabilities enabling them to purchase, consume and change their connectivity services in an easy way.
To meet these stringent needs, Netcracker has created the industry’s first blueprint for multi-orbit satellite IT incorporating new innovations to help satellite providers extract every amount of value from their massive investments.
Driven by extensive telecom expertise and IT leadership, along with 15 years of experience in the satellite industry, Netcracker has developed a significant innovation that will revolutionize the satellite communications market.
Powering Exceptional Experiences From Multi-Orbit Satellites
Netcracker Digital Satellite Solution is the most advanced IT stack ever deployed to support the shifting nature of satellite communications while conforming to strict multi-zone SLAs in real time and delivering premium NaaS services to a global customer base.
With Netcracker Digital Satellite Solution, satellite operators have access to the latest BSS and OSS innovations for their specific requirements, deeply embedded AI across the IT stack to maximize service quality and optimize costs, robust security practices to protect sensitive customer data and prevent unauthorized access and Netcracker’s extensive expertise with telcos and satellite providers.
The solution incorporates an OSS environment that includes real-time service inventory and topology, dynamic SLA management using state-of-the-art AI Assurance and the most advanced closed-loop service automation for communications networks.
The solution also includes a sophisticated, out-of-the-box BSS environment with simplified API-driven customer engagements that leverage advanced CPQ, self-service, a unified product catalog, automated partner management and flexible monetization schemes to accommodate any type of customer or partner across the globe.
Netcracker is helping satellite operators unlock the full potential of their networks to enable ubiquitous communications across the planet. Powering some of the most advanced satellite networks in the world, including Telesat’s Lightspeed LEO and Viasat’s GEO services, our goal is to bring exceptional communications experiences everywhere.