The latest WTA report delves into the capability of SD-WAN in aiding teleport operators to fulfill market demand for seamless, integrated connectivity.
The World Teleport Association (WTA) has launched “SD-WAN for Competitive Advantage and Revenue Growth,” a comprehensive research report delving into the transformative potential of SD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network) for teleport operators. The report gathers insights from industry leaders, highlighting strategies, case studies, and practical applications to navigate evolving customer demands and technological advancements.
Robert Bell, Executive Director of WTA, said: For decades, satellite service providers have sold their services in well-defined siloes, dictated by the uniqueness of our technology and the limits it imposed. SD-WAN is lifting those limits so that, whatever complexity is happening in the network, customers get what they really want: seamless access to the capacity they need. The challenge for our industry is to leverage that capability as much as possible and as fast as possible to seize the opportunities it offers.
Exclusive access to the report is available to WTA members through their online accounts on the association’s website. While WTA members can download the report at no cost, non-members have the option to purchase it for valuable insights into the evolving landscape of satellite communications and SD-WAN integration.
A technology executive summed it up: The biggest customer need is better availability. SD-WAN provides additional resiliency to communications networks because you have a virtual connection to wherever satellite, 5G, GEO, LEO. Thanks to the combination of the different paths, we can reach 99.99% availability or higher. We can even do high-bandwidth L-band with maritime customers by bonding four links. When youre in the middle of the ocean in a storm, you appreciate knowing at least one of those links will be available, no matter what.
The value of a service is different from customer to customer, another technology executive noted. An energy customer is looking for high availability. Commercial maritime vessel wants to get as much internet service to crew and passengers as possible for an affordable cost. Being able to bring a portfolio of options and using SD-WAN to tune it to meet their need thats how you win the business.
Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) architecture facilitates the convergence of various transport services into a virtual network, adapting dynamically to changing conditions. While widely adopted in terrestrial communications, its integration into satellite communications promises enhanced reliability and bandwidth optimisation. However, implementing SD-WAN necessitates a digital-first approach, challenging ground segment operations to embrace transformative technologies.
In this report, WTA explores with engineering and operations executives their tips, tricks and use cases that demonstrate the near-term value and long-term potential of SD-WAN to generate competitive advantage and accelerated revenue growth.
