By Andrew Gilman, CMO

Recent news has highlighted the critical role of LEO satellite connectivity in emergency response when traditional networks fail. NWN has been at the forefront of the recovery efforts during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, deploying enterprise-class low-earth orbit connectivity with over 200+ Starlink endpoints to restore internet connectivity in the hardest-hit areas. This rapid response has been crucial in enabling communication and coordination between emergency services and local authorities.

I recently hosted a webinar on this topic with Grant Kirkwood, CEO of Contrivian, and Chris Poe, VP of Intelligent Infrastructure at NWN. They drew our attention to the expanding number of satellites orbiting our planet and discussed the considerable progress made in satellite communication that ensures accessibility and affordability.

They delved into an array of fascinating areas, including the optimization of network performance, designing a modern WAN for cloud and AI workloads, and the significance of LEO satellites for diverse transport options.

A central theme of the webinar was the attention given to how LEO satellites offer reliable connectivity during emergencies and remarkable benefits for rural school districts through high-speed, low-latency networks.

The LEO Revolution

Chris Poe expressed his excitement about the advancements in satellite connectivity and the immeasurable potential LEO satellites could bring to our communal and enterprise lives. He underlined the rapidly growing momentum in the satellite internet market and its cruciality in securing internet access for various applications.

“SpaceX is constantly launching satellites into low Earth orbit and emphasizes the importance of low latency for internet traffic,” Chris shares, awed by the magnitude of space traffic and the lack of collisions. This insight was furthered by a discussion of the economic factors driving satellite activity. This rider towards cost-effectiveness was strengthened by advancements in terrestrial gear, facilitating portable and economical satellite stations.”

The Benefits of the LEO Internet Experience

A significant highlight was the emphasis Poe placed on the importance of connectivity with use-cases across various sectors like healthcare, retail, utility work, and emergency management. Fittingly, examples were drawn of practical applications during firefighting, on remote oil rigs, and solar farms.

The concluding sections homed in on the indispensability of failover and diverse transport options in enterprise and fixed commercial locations to offset the disruption of internet outages. Chris amplified this by indicating that different deployment types had been engineered to cater to specific use case scenarios.

Further substantiation was provided by Grant Kirkwood about the impressive advancements in satellite communication aided by the development of phased array antennas that electronically steer themselves. This innovation catalyzed the birth of compact and portable satellite receivers that found applications in remote locations, disaster relief situations, and first responders’ utility.

Enterprise-Grade Satellite Internet – A Model Shift

One of the most critical pieces of the conversation was a focus on enterprise-grade satellite internet. The speakers discussed the benefits, features, and services it offers, highlighting professional installation, ongoing monitoring, flexible plans, quick hardware replacement, and integration with managed routers and firewalls.

The comprehensive conversation hosted by Chris and Grant around the use of LEO Satellite Internet in enterprise communications drove the point home about the importance of optimizing the path of internet requests and transactions in today’s remote, virtual, and hybrid workspaces.

The Road Ahead

We concluded the discussion by expressing our excitement about the possibilities that LEO internet can unleash. We encouraged the audience to explore the numerous use cases that a modern-day architecture with LEO satellites makes possible. The speakers thanked the audience for their time and invited them to reach out for more information. For more info, download our LEO brief here.

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