Satellite Communications Market Growth

Nowadays we are living in a smart world where everything can be connected to the internet using a simple sensor. This is called the Internet of the Things (IoT). Physical electronic devices, cars, vessels, and planes can be converted to smart devices. They can be controlled remotely to accelerate processes and reduce human interventions.

Satellite communications plays a vital role in interconnecting things in our new smart world, especially things that are far apart and difficult to connect to via traditional cellular networks, such as cars, vessels, and planes.

This new IoT technology has opened new markets for satellite applications as illustrated in this video which will be discussed in this blog.

iDirect technology is leading the way through a wave of such new innovation when it comes to satellite ground infrastructure technology. Link Communications Systems, as a leading provider of iDirect services to customers globally for over 15 years, is expanding the capabilities of enterprises worldwide to utilize this telecommunications platform for business and market growth in a broad range of markets. LCS is a key player in expanding the satellite communications market globally. Some examples are:

Connected Vehicles

Connected vehicles include cars, buses, and trucks. Once vehicles become connected they can send and receive signals, mapping data and critical information to and from each other. This leads to the innovation of driverless vehicles that will in turn revolutionize transportation systems to become safer, faster, and easier to use. Personal vehicles are considered to be a candidate to use this technology.

The dramatic reduction in satellite costs and smaller size of satellite payloads has resulted in increasing number of satellite applications and usage specially for connected vehicles applications.

The following are the benefits that can be achieved from Connected Vehicles:

• Share mapping data
• Share traffic information
• Route optimization
• Crash reduction
• Save time
• Entertainment for passengers
• Providing maintenance reports
• Reduce fuel consumption
• Theft control

There are many other benefits in connected vehicles. Consequently, car manufacturers are investing in connected vehicles using satellite communications.

Aviation

In our new world, people expect internet connectivity everywhere, with no exception, even in flights!

There are different types of in-flight connectivity such as:

• Airlines connectivity: Airlines are connecting their entire operations over satellites to ensure flight safety and communicate critical information about weather or other matters related to flight security. It is expected that about 23,000 aircraft will become connected through satellite communications by 2025.
• Commercial Aviation Connectivity: Connectivity is needed by ariline passengers, just as when they are on the ground. Wifi services will be offered to passengers with a high speed internet connection that allows them to use various applications such as web browsing, video streaming, etc.
• Business Aviation Connectivity: This type of aviation connectivity is related to passengers in business class, who use business applications such as emails with large attachments, and video conferencing.

Maritime

Maritime satellite communications can provide broadband at sea. There is no alternative to satellite in the world’s seas and oceans. Crews and passengers need internet connection at sea, to communicate critical information as the vessels sail. This includes fishers, sailors, engineers at oil rigs, and tourists on cuise ships.

It is expected that the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of maritime VSAT will be more than 13% before 2021. Link Communications Systems as a leading Maritime VSAT provider plays a pivotal role in this market.

Defense

Military satellites were initially used by the US government in the 1960’s. Since that time, military satellites have become a key element in national & international security. They can be used for communications, navigation and surveillance.

• Communications:

Governments recognize the great benefits of satellite communications for national defense as it enhances troops communications for critical information during critical times.

• Navigation:

Navigation provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS) is based on satellites that provide location and timing information. There are many GPS systems worldwide, for example:

• Global Positioning System – USA
• Galileo system – the European Union
• GLONASS system – Russia
• BeiDou Navigation Satellite System – China
• Surveillance:

Satellie Surveillance means precise tracking of objects from space. Surveillance is very important from a military point of view to decrease or eliminate debris in orbit that results from space disasters severly affecting micro and nano satellites.

Thus, the investments are rapidly increasing in military satellites, which enlarge the satellite communications market. Link Communication Systems plays an important role with iDirect technology to provide safety for the nations by enabling military satellite communications with high speed links that can reach 100Mbps.

New Generation of Satellite Communications

New technologies are highly needed to cope with the surge in data crossing the satellite networks. One of these new technologies is beam hopping in multi-beam broadband satellite communications that re-assigns capacities to beams based on the traffic distributions and traffic demands. This new technology enhances the utilization of the satellite system resources & balances the loads between different beams.

Another important new technology is “Virtualization,” which in satellite communications will incorporate the hub, an important part of a ground station, into the cloud. So, companies needing a hub can rent it from the cloud and pay as they grow. This will also reduce the Capital Expenditures and Operating Expenses of companies offering this service and to the customers using it.

Link Communication Systems continuously employs such new technologies, so that it can satisfy the wide-ranging demands of its customers in the satellite communications market.