As SpaceX prepares to supply satellite broadband to consumers, the company is also looking to apply the same technology to Microsoft’s remote data centers.
On Tuesday, the two companies announced that SpaceX’s Starlink system will provide satellite internet to Microsoft’s Azure modular data centers, which can operate in areas far away from ground-based fiber internet cables.
In a video, SpaceX Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said the two companies will be “co-selling” the Starlink connectivity to enterprise customers. “So Starlink brings point-to-point communication from anywhere on Earth,” she added. “So leveraging that along with Azure I think is really an incredibly robust capability for our customers.”
The modular data centers are targeting both the public and private sector. For example, the units can be deployed as “mobile command centers” for missions involving defense, humanitarian efforts, and mineral exploration, Microsoft said.
“The unit can operate in a wide range of climates and harsh conditions in a ruggedized, radio frequency (RF) shielded unit. Once deployed it can act as critical infrastructure where temperature, humidity, and even level surfaces can pose a challenge,” the company added.
The modular data centers will also be able to connect to satellites from SES, which has been developing a high-speed satellite internet system capable of speeds between hundreds of Mbps to multiple Gbps. Interested business customers can contact their Microsoft representative about the modular data centers.
The partnerships are part of Microsoft’s Azure Space program, which launched today. It’ll focus on applying the company’s cloud computing technologies to space-related missions, including analyzing insights taken from satellite data, simulating space missions, and developing new innovations designed to one day orbit the planet.
As for SpaceX, the company currently has over 800 Starlink satellites in orbit, which can deliver 100Mbps download speeds at a latency at around 30 milliseconds. According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the company plans on kicking off the public beta for the satellite internet soon for residents based in the northern US and possibly southern Canada.
In today's announcement, Microsoft also indicated that it's helping SpaceX roll out the necessary ground station technology needed to communicate with the Starlink satellites in orbit. "The two companies also plan to further connect Starlink with Microsoft’s global network—including Azure edge devices—integrating SpaceX’s ground stations with Azure networking capabilities," Microsoft said.