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Cloud computing has been one of the most influential technology updates of this century. It has been evolving IT strategies and bottom lines of businesses for the better. Although the information and communications technology sector has taken to the cloud rapidly, the satellite industry has been lagging. However, due to the many advantages of cloud infrastructure, satellites are gravitating towards it.
Are Your Satellites Embracing The Cloud?
The satellite industry has the potential to cut down costs significantly by moving to the cloud. A reduction in upfront capital expenditure is evident with the adoption of cloud technology. Moreover, operational costs will become more predictable on the cloud.
Not to mention, the cloud gives a tactical advantage of better responsiveness. The satellite industry and associated companies gain more agility through a cloud environment. Shifting to the cloud promises a healthier future for both the cloud and the satellite industry. Cumulative cloud-based services are to generate revenue worth $16 billion from the satellite/space industry in the coming decade, as estimated in recent reports.
Use cases in the Satellite Value Chain
The satellite value chain will slowly but steadily be “cloudified”. The cloud is more than just storage of data, services include network management applications, big data analytics and more. Let's take a look at some of the most impacted divisions of the satellite industry:
Satellite Communication
Communication is the most crucial part of the satellite industry. Satcom customers widely utilize cloud resources for departments like aerospace, maritime etc. Each division benefits from cloud computing through its security features and ease of data transfer and storage. Aeronautical, passenger cruise and maritime, offshore satcoms will cumulatively generate over $7 billion in the coming ten years for cloud verticals.
Data Downlinks
Receiving signals from satellites to earth is a telecommunication link knows as downlinks. Ground station service providers are the team associated with it. Cloud-based services help them with revamping their existing infrastructure. Through cloud resources, the update of traditional ground station infrastructure is effortless. Additionally, downlinked data such as weather reports, aircraft trajectory can be analyzed thoroughly. DBMS in the cloud is a powerful tool for all database related functions.
