The employment of the space cloud is applicable in various fields, including mobility, universal broadband, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to generate heavy data, along with the requirement of a cost-effective storage system for heavy data.
Thus, the adoption of cloud computing came into creation to bring multiple commercial benefits, including improved productivity and efficiency, reduced operating costs, and enhanced business opportunities.
In line with this, cloud providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are building relationships with satellite companies to work on strategies to make two-way business connections between the cloud and space.
Satellite-based cloud computing is a system where cloud computing resources, such as servers, storage, and networking, are provided to users through satellites in orbit around the Earth. This allows users in remote or underserved areas to access cloud computing services without the need for terrestrial infrastructure. It also increases data transfer and communication capabilities, particularly when traditional ground-based infrastructure is damaged or unavailable.
According to the BIS Research report, the global satellite-based cloud computing market is estimated to reach $472.6 million in 2032 from $368.3 million in 2022, at a CAGR of 2.53% during the forecast period 2022–2032.
As the demand for cloud computing services continues to grow, satellite-based cloud computing can provide access to these services in areas where traditional ground-based infrastructure is unreliable. This is particularly important for rural and remote areas and regions affected by natural disasters or other crises.
As technology advances and the Internet of Things (IoT) becomes more prevalent, the amount of data generated and transmitted is increasing rapidly. Satellite-based cloud computing can provide the bandwidth and low-latency connections to handle this growing volume of data, particularly in situations where traditional ground-based infrastructure is insufficient.
Since the need for secure and reliable communication systems is also increasing. Satellite-based cloud computing can provide secure, private, and accessible cloud computing services that can't be achieved through terrestrial-based infrastructure alone. This is particularly important for organizations and businesses that operate in sensitive or regulated industries.
Moreover, satellite-based cloud computing can provide increased data transfer capabilities and improved communication systems, which is helpful for industries that require large amounts of data to be transmitted quickly and reliably, such as remote sensing, surveillance, and autonomous systems.
Cloud-providing companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are constantly investing in research and development to improve their cloud computing services and expand their offerings. They are planning in a few ways:
Edge computing: These companies are investing in edge computing, which involves processing data closer to the source of data, rather than in centralized data centers. This can improve the speed and responsiveness of cloud computing services and reduce latency.
5G and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites: Companies are exploring 5G networks and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to improve the speed and reliability of their cloud computing services, particularly in remote areas.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Companies are investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve their cloud computing services' capabilities and offer new services such as natural language processing, computer vision, and predictive analytics.
Security: These companies are also investing in security to ensure the safety and privacy of their customer's data, including implementing new security protocols and implementing encryption technologies through satellite-based cloud computing.
Satellite-based cloud computing is an emerging technology that is gaining attention to provide cloud computing services in places where traditional infrastructure is lacking and to offer capabilities that cannot be achieved through terrestrial-based infrastructure alone.
The need for satellite-based cloud computing is increasing as more industries and businesses rely on cloud computing, more data is generated and transmitted, and more organizations adopt digital transformation strategies.
