Integrating Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations into terrestrial networks is revolutionizing the possibilities of edge computing. LEO is bringing edge computing to unserved and underserved markets by replacing or augmenting fibre on the ground.
In simple terms, edge computing is about pushing hardware and computing workloads to where data is collected. This approach allows for faster processing and problem-solving. Edge computing is particularly valuable in remote areas without on-premises data centers. New remote use cases can be addressed by using the computing power of LEO at the edge. Integrated into terrestrial telco networks, LEO will allow cloud providers to reach more end users with the high bandwidth and low latency required by modern digital applications.
Many industries are now adopting the collaborative edge. This is when a network beyond fibre backs up operations to guarantee resiliency or expand geographic operations with satellite to enable a mesh network of edge computing hubs to “collaborate.”
Building out an enterprise-class LEO network
Unlike some LEO systems designed around business-to-consumer services, we designed Telesat Lightspeed as an enterprise-class LEO network from day one. It is a truly global service designed for communications service providers seeking a superior choice for connecting rural and hard-to-reach areas. Simply put, enterprise-class means delivering high throughput data links with guaranteed service level agreements that include defined committed information rates, packet loss, and jitter, as well as service availability and low latency performance that is on par with terrestrial fibre. This ensures that telecom and cloud service providers can provide their customers with a city-like broadband edge experience, no matter how rural or remote their location.
This global, Layer 2 Ethernet network in space is possible due to next-generation technology such as software-defined networking and optical inter-satellite links (OISLs) that connect each satellite to form a mesh network in space. Telesat Lightspeed LEO satellites are larger than most other LEO satellites to accommodate longer life and next-generation technologies and are 35 times closer to Earth than GEO satellites, resulting in low latency, high-speed connectivity.
Huge New Markets
The Telesat Lightspeed architecture, coupled with its low latency, is the key to opening new markets for edge computing. The enterprise opportunity for LEO broadband connectivity is estimated to be more than $300 billion by 2030, and leading space research firms predict multiple market winners addressing these connectivity needs.
This enterprise market consists of four major segments: enterprise, aviation, maritime (including energy and mining), and government. Each of these segments can leverage edge computing, and last-mile connectivity served by advanced LEO networks.
An enterprise-grade LEO network could provide a quality broadband connection where one wasn’t possible before, and/or it could backhaul the information from one or many edge compute locations to a company’s master data center. Autonomous shipping is an ideal use case for incorporating LEO with the edge. Every shipboard sensor, application, and video feed can be replicated into a digital twin, with staff on shore accessing real-time video and issuing commands that are latency sensitive. Stringent SLAs must back this type of application for availability and latency and would never feasibly be served by best-effort, consumer-grade LEO networks to connect the onshore edge to these ships reliably.
Offering last-mile edge computing to service providers is in keeping with Telesat’s heritage of resilient, mission-critical primary and backhaul links. Telesat Lightspeed is a business-to-business telco-grade service serving telcos, mobile network operators, governments, and other managed service and cloud providers.
Edge Computing in the Future
The relentless pace of technological innovation should drive the computing edge closer and closer to the device in the next few years. As compute power becomes smaller and more powerful, data processing will begin to happen in space rather than requiring transport to a terrestrial data center. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, which manages the International Space Station National Laboratory, recently announced plans to install a virtualized micro data center on the ISS by the end of 2025.
With this new capability, researchers at the space station would be able to run data analytics locally and in near real-time. Eventually, this processing could occur on satellites themselves, offering to run third-party customer applications.
Telesat Lightspeed is poised to expand the possibilities of edge computing radically. This change will happen in space and through integration with carrier networks.
