Theo Van Zyl, Head of Wireless at Vox talks satellites and connectivity and the value of speed when reimagining enterprise connectivity.

Latency is a keyword for connectivity, especially within organisations that demand high-speed, highly available solutions that meet their growing data requirements. At a time when the total data volume from enterprises globally sits at more than 2.02 petabytes at 42.2% annual growth. In short, data is exploding and so is the need for connectivity platforms that provide higher data throughput to allow organisations to transmit and receive data at speed. Efficient data transfer is critical in the cloud-powered, digital economy.

Enter LEO. This multi-orbit solution is often used for high-end communication services such as the military and mission-critical networks because it is fast, secure, and capable of handling extensive data transfers. LEO satellites sit at approximately 500 to 1,200 km from the Earth’s orbit compared with GEO satellites at 35,000km and MEO satellites at between 10,000 and 12,000kms. Thanks to its proximity to Earth, LEO satellites deliver a latency that’s less than 100 milliseconds whereas GEO satellites – where most communication solutions reside – are approximately 600 miliseconds and more. It also offers a throughput of 250Mbpsdownloads and 20Mmbps uploads.

Other advantages of LEO are that the proximity to Earth allows for the system to bypass many geographic conditions and can provide global coverage. These networks are also uninterrupted and secure which are critical factors for data transfer – no organisation wants to prioritise speedy communication of the security of their data. Fortunately, LEO, having been designed for some of the most secure organisations and entities around the globe, brings robust security as a standard.

Until recently, LEO connectivity wasn’t widely available in South Africa primarily because of the cost factor. This is largely due to the fact that LEO satellites aren’t static like their GEO counterparts – they orbit the Earth which means the organisation also needs an antenna that can follow the satellite signal all the time. Another barrier to entry has been that LEO requires 100s of satellites to provide coverage compared with GEO needing only one or two to cover large areas.

Which introduces the question of cost. Why would the enterprise turn to the LEO network when the cost is significantly higher than that of a GEO network? The answers lie in the keywords of high-speed connectivity with low latency. It is an ideal solution for organisations lacking access to fibre or wireless technology and it delivers exceptional service delivery and reliability. While the price tag remains high, partnerships with organisations specialising in connectivity solutions are bringing the cost of LEO into a more realistically affordable category.

While the solution remains relatively costly today, increased usage and adoption by data-driven organisations will likely see it become less expensive over time. Once the business has invested in the technology, it also has the option to potentially connect communities and towns with one LEO solution, deploying 4G or 5G connectivity throughout a region or area. This is a useful investment for mining or manufacturing organisations that operate within rural regions and want to drive the upliftment of local communities alongside gaining the connectivity advantage.

Taking it deeper into niche industry territory, LEO satellites offer immense value to organisations that want reliable connectivity to drive safety and productivity. Ships out at sea, mining communities, and other critical communication requirements can be met by LEO satellites regardless of where the organisations or facilities are located.

LEO, while still on the cost fringes for some organisations, is gaining traction across enterprises and industries thanks to its ubiquity, security, and high-speed capabilities. It delivers the backup and redundancy that organisations want and need. It is perfectly positioned for the rising tide of automation and AI, providing the modernising organisation with the connectivity architecture it needs to thrive.

Theo Van Zyl, Head of Wireless at Vox unpacks the importance of investing into high-speed, high-availability critical connectivity for industrial, military and emergency services sectors.

The LEO satellite market, according to Mordor Intelligence, is estimated at $157.46 billion as of 2023 with an anticipated increase to $284.39 billion by 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.35%. The demand for LEO satellites is being driven by the increased demand for high-speed, secure, low-latency connectivity capable of handling significant data transfer volumes, particularly by the mining, logistics, manufacturing, emergency services and military sectors. As LEO satellites are still in an early adoption phase, it is anticipated that the terminal and data costs will come down as adoption grows over time complementing terrestrial services.

These satellites, often called a constellation, sit approximately 500 to 1,200km from the Earth’s orbit offering a latency of less than 100 milliseconds with a throughput of 250Mbps download and 20Mbps upload. Higher speeds can be obtained with specialised terminals designed to suit a specific requirement. These satellite constellations provide higher data throughput than the traditional GEO satellites and their proximity to Earth allows them to function optimally regardless of geographic conditions, delivering smooth global coverage to remote and geographically challenging areas. The latency and bandwidth delivered by LEO are rarely compromised by deserts, snow, mountains or remote conditions which makes it an ideal solution for the mining and logistics sectors.

When it comes to shipping, for example, LEO allows for vessels in the deep sea to communicate clearly with land, allowing for rapid response times and visibility into shipping status and location. In the mining sector, the rapid rise of automation and the Internet of Things means that facilities are highly reliant on connectivity to ensure systems remain online and safety paramount. Connectivity is also critical across facilities, both in remote and urban areas, to ensure cameras and other automated solutions remain connected to control rooms for security and worker safety.

Automation is particularly important. This is a growing area of reliance for many companies wanting to minimise downtime and improve productivity, yet its efficiency rests firmly in the hands of the connectivity solutions implemented by the company. This, along with IoT, is a technology reshaping how the industry operates so redundancy, accessibility and speed are key, as well as the ability for any communication system to handle demanding data needs.

Organisations within these sectors rely on connectivity to ensure operations run smoothly, productivity remains on track, and that workers and systems co-exist within an ecosystem that operates optimally. This is particularly relevant when it comes to worker safety as more companies are investing in smart devices and wearables to provide real-time visibility into events and situations. Worker tracking and real-time alerts are invaluable when it comes to injury prevention while sensors and data allow for teams to proactively maintain equipment based on predictive data and intelligence that mitigates the risks of downtime or system failure.

All of these capabilities rely heavily on connectivity and redundancy – which is another added benefit of a LEO constellation. Packages built to deliver high uptime and redundancy prioritise critical business applications and are well suited to organisations that have critical communication requirements. The value of LEO is that the constellations are designed to provide continuity and are a safeguard that ensures the business remains connected at all times. This is not only relevant within industrial sectors but for organisations reliant on cloud and communications to remain in business, and provide their services.

Enter the value of LEO for the military, special forces and emergency services. LEO remains active and connected in the event of a disaster which allows for improved deployment of personnel and situation management. Command centres can use the technology to rapidly respond to emergency situations without losing critical communication links with people on the ground. Emergency command centre vehicles with installed flat panel antennas can be deployed anywhere in time of a disaster and the command centre will have good quality communications to manage a situation effectively. It also has applications for clinics and healthcare services beyond just emergency first responders – potentially LEO can enable healthcare to remote and rural areas, providing access to medical care that traditionally people in these regions have been unable to access.

LEO is proving a reliable and resilient connectivity alternative to traditional solutions as it ensures that sectors with high demands are able to remain online, agile and connected despite complex operating conditions. From mobile health clinics to automated industrial plants and mining outposts, LEO provides what these organisations need.