Leo Services Like Starlink Are Booming - What Comes Next Will Be Trickier

The fundamental technology architecture deployed by all these operators relies on the use of communication satellites in low orbits to deliver high-performance, low-cost services to the global market. However, because each operator has developed different end-to-end service delivery platforms and business models to serve the global end-user market, this is also the only common denominator.

These end-to-end service delivery platforms are inevitably designed to service the global market and offer universal end-user service profiles that can meet the requirements of all users, regardless of location or market sector. The design of an end-user service profile portfolio that meets user requirements worldwide is feasible as long as it's a standard broadband access service.

However, when the requirements of niche markets such as the financial, industrial or retail sectors are taken into account, the design of a single product set to serve the global market requires compromises in terms of cost and performance. The situation is further complicated when regional and country-specific requirements such as the need for direct physical integration with customer fibre and core networks, management systems and service compliance requirements are factored in.

Yes, global LEO networks are breaking free of previous constraints in terms of cost and performance in the "connecting anywhere" paradigm and, yes, LEO-enabled networks will grow to become a dominant force in the telecommunications sector. The question is how to leverage global LEO networks while at the same time meeting Africa's specific requirements.

Leveraging the technology advantages of LEO constellations, Eutelsat OneWeb engineers committed to developing a Smart Network domain on the LEO constellation that can be exclusively used to serve Q-KON's customers and meet specific African customer-centric requirements. With this Smart Network domain as a foundation, Q-KON then added Twoobii smart satellite services functionality to better define specific use-case profiles and unlock the inherent advantages of this model.