SpaceX has inked a deal to use its Starlink LEO satellite service to support SD-WAN connections. The SD-WAN offering comes via an authorized Starlink reseller agreement with MetTel, a global company that designs and manages connectivity for government and commercial enterprises.
SD-WAN connectivity aims to save costs and improve network performance for enterprises. It typically uses two links and dynamically allocates traffic between them based on priority, network traffic and other parameters.
A MetTel spokesperson filled Telecompetitor in on the details of the Starlink SD-WAN offering. In answer to an email inquiry from Telecompetitor, the spokesperson said MetTel has “successfully paired our Starlink service” with:
- Wired – DIA, Broadband, Ethernet etc. all types of terrestrial services available.
- Fixed Wireless Access – LTE/5G networks and MetTel Managed Devices
- Multiple Starlinks – we used between 2 & 12 Starlink antennas aggregated to our SD-WAN solution
Starlink’s low-latency network in space currently serves over four million customers worldwide, with the majority of users attaining speeds well over 100 Mbps, according to an announcement about the Starlink SD-WAN offering.
MetTel said it was one of the first providers to deliver SD-WAN technology as a fully managed service more than a decade ago. Customers include companies in financial services, environmental services, construction, as well as government agencies.
“As an access technology, satellite communication has always been a challenge as signals must travel up to space and back down to earth, introducing latency and eroding performance. Many satellite communication providers use packet manipulation like queuing to provide a better consumer experience, but when using a business-oriented overlay technology like SD-WAN the packet manipulation can inhibit the performance of the network,” MetTel noted in the announcement.
“Starlink’s low-Earth orbit system provides low-latency, high-bandwidth transmissions without heavy processing of traditional satellite, enabling MetTel to integrate space-based access paths into its existing terrestrial SD-WAN networks.”
MetTel said SD-WAN and Starlink are two of the fastest-growing network services in IT communications.
“The SD-WAN market is forecast to generate a compound annual growth rate of 14.6% in end-user spending from 2022 through 2027,” based on 60% SD-WAN market penetration, according to the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN.
Joan Engebretson contributed to this report
