The software defined satellite (SDS) market has been buzzing with news starting with the launch of Eutelsat 10B, upcoming launch of SES’ mPower satellites, and new orders from Eutelsat, Intelsat, and SES. The need for SDS is driven by a variety of factors: demand for satellite-based connectivity, development and availability of new technologies, and support.
Among SDS units’ main benefits are flexibility. “From an operator standpoint, you gain the ability to change your mission. That’s one of the hardest things about space: once you launch a satellite, your mission is defined for the next five to 15 years. You can change some of its functionality, but really, your mission is.
Flexibility is the greatest driver in the satellite industry. As technology across the value chain has improved, barriers to entry have come down in both manufacturing and launch. In turn, a growing diversity of solutions has, and continues to, come to market, finding new ground by providing customers with more options, through flexibility. This was.
Flexibility is the greatest driver in the satellite industry. From manufacturing to launch, in-orbit to on-the-ground operation, flexible technologies, pricing, and solutions offer diversity and increase the playing field for competition. Yet, more does not always mean better, and the pace and necessity of flexibility can differ widely from market to market, customer to customer.
Software-defined satellites are a growing trend in the satellite industry, especially in GEO. With SES-17’s successful launch two weeks ago, and Eutelsat Quantum as well back in July, the industry is seeing more fully-flexible satellites in orbit.