iVent NAAS

Competitiveness & Growth

Status

Ongoing
Status date

2025-01-08
Activity Code

3A.206

Objectives

Go through the definition and technology phase of a multi-operator multi-tenant platform for the next-gen satellite network operators. Goal is to accelerate the introduction of a new generation of LEO based satellite communication services.

In the definition phase the functional requirements of both suppliers and customers of LEO services will be matched against the available infrastructure and management technology, defining the technical requirements of the platform.

In the technology phase the requirements will be translated into architecture and prototypes.

The platform will enable satellite system integrators and channel partners, against reasonable costs, to define, provision, manage and control services from GEO, MEO and LEO operators (Satellite Network Operators, SNO;s) using a single service.

Challenges

The key challenge for the NaaS project is matching the fast-developing NaaS core IP, provisioning and data layer technology with SNO and Channel Partner requirements.

SNO requirements are not only varied, with different network typologies and methodologies, but their requirements are still under development, with their current focus on the space segment technology and their commercial models still in an early stage.

The SNO channel partner requirements are based on the type of object (vessel/aeroplane/truck) and their service requirements (coverage/business criticality/bandwidth, latency). Channel partners also have different requirements for provisioning, traffic management, billing, and BI and assurance.

Benefits

With the number of satellite networks operators (SNO) increasing strongly in the coming decade, channel partners and SNO resellers are challenged in terms of costs, capacity and location to connect to all these different networks.

Especially if they have to ensure a proper Quality of Service and Quality of Experience for satellite broadband connections that the SNO are demanding.

With the global Network as a Service (“NaaS”), these parties can in a cost-effective way connect to the NaaS provisioning layer thus benefitting from the NAAS back-end connections with the SNOs that meet the bandwidth requirements that respective SNOs have.

Features

The NaaS target market is Tier-Two Communication Providers that want to extend their portfolio of satellite services with the offering of a new generation of LEO satellite networks.

CPs are reselling multiple connectivity types via satellite and terrestrial networks.

Often these CPs focus on a specific vertical market segment or a certain geographical region, where regional coverage is required but for segments like aviation or maritime global coverage is required.

The NaaS will provide:

Plain vanilla connectivity directly from the Network Operator
Independence from large Marlink/Eutelsat-like players
Network Management and Network operability
Customised management tools
Customer Portal

System Architecture

The NAAS consist of 3 layers:

An underlay layer consisting of a core IP network that routes and transports IP traffic between regional Points of Presence (“PoPs”):
This layer provides basic (IP-based) connectivity services and optionally IP routing Value Added services.
A global SNO provisioning layer that provides end-user terminals with the desired airtime packages and their SLAs from the relevant SNO, and provides the IP network configuration, as well as the desired Value-Added Services.
A data analytics layer for gathering, correlating, and analysing network traffic metrics and terminal metrics per data user flow in order to provide insight into the user experience. The overlay data layer also enables value added services like monitoring, network management, traffic orchestration and ancillary -cloud- services around security and billing.

Plan