Microsoft wants to take on Amazon in connecting satellites to the cloud

guest · Sep 13, 2020

Microsoft wants to take on Amazon in connecting satellites to the cloud
The company’s strategy will put it in competition with Amazon, which in November 2018 launched its similar AWS Ground Station service
September 11, 2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/11/mic...on-aws-in-connecting-satellites-to-cloud.html

Microsoft is looking to challenge Amazon in offering a service that connects satellites directly to the company’s cloud computing network, according to documents the company filed with the Federal Communications Commission last month

Microsoft plans to connect a Spanish imaging satellite to two ground stations — both located in Microsoft’s home state of Washington — to show that it can directly download satellite “data to the Azure Cloud for immediate processing,” the FCC documents said.
A ground station, sometimes called an earth station, is the vital link for transmitting data to and from satellites in orbit.

Microsoft notably proposed to construct one of the two ground stations itself at its data center in Quincy, Wash.
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The FCC on Sept. 2 authorized Microsoft to perform proof-of-concept demonstrations of the service. The authorization gives Microsoft a six month license that allows for communications and imagery data downloads.

“If the demonstrations result in significant market interest, Microsoft will file an application for regular earth station authority with the International Bureau (IB) to support future commercial operations, and that application will include a request for U.S. market access for DEIMOS-2,” the company wrote.
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Its strategy matches closely with the one Amazon outlined in November 2018 when it launched its AWS Ground Station service, pitting the tech giants against each other in a new realm of cloud computing services.
Amazon says that AWS Ground Station can connect with wide range of satellites that fly both low and medium Earth orbits.
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guest · Sep 22, 2020

Microsoft unveils Azure Orbital connecting satellites to its cloud
September 22, 2020
https://spacenews.com/azure-orbital-introduction/

Microsoft unveiled Azure Orbital Sept. 22, a service to help customers move data from satellites directly into the Azure cloud for processing and storage.

“With Azure Orbital, we’re taking our infrastructure to space, enabling anyone to access satellite data and capabilities from Azure,” CEO Satya Nadella said during the Microsoft Ignite 2020 conference.
The announcement marked the latest chapter in the competition between Microsoft and Amazon to connect satellite communications networks with cloud infrastructure.

Microsoft, meanwhile, is expanding its network of partners supporting Azure Orbital to include KSAT’s network of more than 200 satellite antennas. Intelsat, SES, Inmarsat and Viasat were already working with Microsoft to send customer data to Microsoft’s Azure network of fiber-linked data centers.

“Microsoft is taking a very partner-centric approach, working with space companies to bring a product to market with them,” Katherine Monson, KSAT USA head, told SpaceNews.
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Azure Orbital “is a fully managed ground station as a service that lets you communicate with, control your satellite, process data and scale your operations directly in Microsoft Azure,” Hrishi Shelar, Azure Networking senior program manager, said during the virtual Ignite conference.

The Federal Communications Commission awarded Microsoft an experimental license in early September to download data from Urthecast’s Deimos-2 Earth observation satellite.
“Contact scheduling will be available for Microsoft owned and operated ground stations in X, S and UHF band frequencies via shared high gain antennas,” Microsoft said in a Sept. 22 blog post.
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Azure Orbital

Satellite ground station and scheduling service connected to Azure for fast downlinking of data
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Microsoft: Introducing Azure Orbital: Process satellite data at cloud-scale

Data collected from space to observe Earth is instrumental in helping address global challenges such as climate change and furthering of scientific discovery and innovation. The cloud is central to both modern communications scenarios for remote operations and the gathering, processing, and distributing the tremendous amounts of data from space.

Today we’re announcing the preview of Azure Orbital. The new ground station service enables satellite operators to communicate to and control their satellites, process data, and scale operations directly with Microsoft Azure. With Azure Orbital, the ground segment, including the ground stations, network, and procedures, becomes a digital platform now integrated into Azure and complemented by many partners.
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guest · Oct 21, 2020

Microsoft unveils modular Azure data centre
Tech giant working with network operators to provide remote access to Azure cloud via satellite ink
October 21, 2020
https://www.techerati.com/news-hub/microsoft-unveils-modular-azure-data-centre/

Microsoft has introduced a transportable modular data centre to bring Azure access to hard to reach locations in need of cloud computing and storage.

The tech giant said the ruggedised data centre, which comes in a radio frequency shielded unit, enables cloud access even in areas where there is unreliable network availability, or where temperature, humidity, and surface levels usually pose a deployment challenge.
A satellite option enables a backup connection in the event of network disruption. Alternatively, the unit can use satellite communications as a primary connection. Microsoft said it is partnering with satellite operators to provide an option for “secure and reliable” connectivity to field-deployed units.
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Microsoft: Introducing the Microsoft Azure Modular Datacenter

We designed the Azure Modular Datacenter (MDC) for customers who need cloud computing capabilities in hybrid or challenging environments, including remote areas. This announcement is complemented by our Azure Space offerings and partnerships that can extend satellite connectivity anywhere in the world. Scenarios range from mobile command centers, humanitarian assistance, military mission needs, mineral exploration, and other use cases requiring high intensity, secure computing on Azure.

This connectivity is achieved through a network high availability module which continuously evaluates network performance. In the event of a network disruption, the network high availability module will move traffic from the impacted network to a backup satellite connection.
Alternatively, MDC can use satellite communications as the primary connection where no other network is available.
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