MetTel’s Starlink reseller agreement enhances managed network services' reach
MetTel’s move to become an Authorized Starlink Reseller for government and commercial enterprises shows the importance of reaching any location. Satellite services like Starlink can accommodate areas that may not currently have connectivity or a need to fulfill an order for a multi-national business quickly.
This agreement enables MetTel to offer fully managed network services to any location worldwide via Starlink’s ubiquitous laser mesh network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
Starlink claims it can provide a low-latency network in space to facilitate connectivity on Earth with most users experiencing speeds well over 100 Mbps.
This connectivity can support high-performance applications like edge computing, remote monitoring, and back-office operations. Designed for mobility applications and challenging environments, Starlink’s Flat High-Performance service affords a wide field of view, offers enhanced GPS capabilities, and is suitable for in-motion use for vehicles, ships, and planes in approved countries.
MetTel’s customers are already seeing value in this new service combination.
John Pieratt, Business Unit Executive for FIS, the world’s largest financial technology provider, said that Starlink “adds another option for connectivity we use to build into our designs.”
“The satellite service allows for low latency, performs very well and provides another level of diversity –wired/wireless versus the wired/wired diversity you would get from other traditional connectivity options,” he said.
Focus on SD-WAN
MetTel is using Starlink connectivity to deliver managed SD-WAN broadband service, enabling a whole new range of applications and expanding what it says is the definition of a “network.” As a result, leaders across major sectors, including government, financial services, construction, and environmental management, have access to network connectivity anytime, anywhere.
The first to deploy SD-WAN over Starlink through its R&D unit, MetTel has now made Starlink generally available to enterprises looking for primary and secondary network access scalable, regardless of location or circumstances. With more than 4 million active customers worldwide today, Starlink can connect office buildings in major metro areas and remote and rugged places and maintain business continuity through disasters and challenging conditions.
Having begun offering the service over 10 years ago, MetTel was among the first to deliver SD-WAN technology as a fully managed service, including to some of the largest business installations in the world.
Working with SD-WAN and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions, MetTel has built a global cloud network with 20 data centers and points of presence (PoPs) to deliver its secure networking services as a fully managed service.
SD-WAN continues to gain ground.
According to the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN, the market is “forecast to generate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6% in end-user spending from 2022 through 2027.”
New connectivity options
While Starlink satellite is MetTel’s latest connectivity option, it’s only one of many providers that will use it to accommodate its business customers.
The service provider will also leverage 5G and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).
Ed Fox, MetTel's CTO, said the company's diversity of network connectivity options reflects the thesis about having broad access.
“We are seeing a wide range of business and government use cases that call for the secure, high-speed performance of MetTel SD-WAN and the anywhere, anytime access afforded by Starlink,” he said. “MetTel will also leverage technologies such as private 5G and spectrum like Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) to leverage Starlink to serve fixed networks and mobile devices.”
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.