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Consulting firm McKinsey projected that the Oil and Gas industry could add up to $250 billion of value to their upstream operations by 2030. How? By leveraging technology to improve connectivity, optimising drilling and production output, and improving maintenance and field operations.

In this webinar, hosted by Ben Travers and Liz Wilson of Ground Control, we explore five ways in which this optimised connectivity can be achieved – whether that’s through lowering costs through better device monitoring, choosing the best communications strategy for each application, or by implementing emerging technology such as edge computing.

Satellite connectivity is already widely used in the Oil well lifecycle, because there’s no more reliable and secure way of getting your data from remote locations back to your engineering or HSE team. But it’s fair to say that it’s viewed by some as expensive and a necessary evil.

However, as more and more satellite companies have started offering commercial services, competition has expedited both the diversification of airtime services, and lowered the cost. It’s time for Oil companies to revisit their current set up and see if they could save money by adopting different forms of connectivity at different stages of the oil well lifecycle.

If it sounds complicated and expensive to review your current connectivity infrastructure, there’s good news here, too; devices are available now which will integrate with your legacy set up, extending their lifecycle, while conferring you the benefits of better connectivity at a lower price.

If you’d like to learn more about Ground Control’s satellite connectivity solutions for Oil and Gas companies, check out our Oil & Gas overview page or get in touch via the form below.

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We have over 20 years’ experience in helping companies like yours get the optimal combination of airtime, hardware and services. For a no pressure call, simply fill in the form and one of our expert team will get back to you.

In this webinar, recorded in September 2021, we explore the challenge presented by the PSTN switch off, particularly the impact upon utilities companies. As you might anticipate, we’ll propose satellite connectivity as a solution to these challenges, but this offers you a broad spectrum of possibilities, so we explore the best options for this application. Finally, we address some of the frequently asked questions about this service.

Why are British Utilities Companies Affected by the PSTN Switch Off?

Utilities companies are particularly exposed by BT OpenReach’s decision to switch off the PSTN network, as they operate many thousands of sites currently connected using this technology. And it’s worked really well – PSTN’s astonishing availability (99.992%) is something that even FTTP may struggle to match. Security is another concern: as many utilities companies are requesting more and more data to facilitate the “smart grid”, if that data can be intercepted, that could lead to costly and reputation damaging outages.

Cellular connectivity will be the solution for most utilities sites – but not all. Remote sites may have no cellular coverage because they’re in a valley, for example, and you can’t simply move the site into 3G or 4G range. Or you may have some cellular coverage, but it’s unreliable – and so a backup, or failover, system is needed to ensure that the data can always get out.

Why is Satellite a Viable Solution?

Satellite connectivity has long been the failover for really remote utilities sites where not even the PSTN network reaches. You need very limited infrastructure – a clear view of the sky, and an antenna plus transceiver that can connect with the satellite network. These devices are not weather or location dependant; they have a 10-15 year life span, and have been built with your existing infrastructure in mind. The key here is resilience: when the cellular network is unavailable or unreliable, satellite provides an excellent primary or failover system.

Not all Satellite Connectivity is Created Equal

Satellite connectivity ranges from very small daily data volumes which are transmitted hourly, to high throughput live video streaming-capable solutions. For the PSTN switch off, you are looking at something towards the smaller end of that scale, with kilobytes of daily data, and transmission frequency measured in minutes. We would recommend either the RockREMOTE or the Cobham Explorer 540. The video explains the differences between the two services, but if you’ve any questions, please get in touch.

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We've implemented satellite IoT infrastructure for decades, and there's very rarely been an obstruction issue we couldn't overcome with a bit of knowledge and ingenuity.

We'd be happy to talk to you about your project and offer impartial advice on the best antenna and satellite service for your particular requirements. Call or email us, or complete the form.

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Why is a satellite solution needed?

For years, PSTN lines have facilitated many remote data collection applications. On December 31 2025, in the UK, these lines will be switched off, as BT Openreach focuses on developing its fibre network, which delivers IP telephony – the “new” means by which data will be transferred. And this pattern is being repeated across the developed world. However, it will be many years before fiber finds its way to remote locations – if indeed it ever does – and it’s cost-prohibitive for most companies to fund this privately. While cellular connectivity provides a viable alternative, some sites are so remote that there is no cellular coverage.

Satellite connectivity is the clear choice in this scenario, allowing organizations to securely extend IT infrastructure to every remote corner of their operations, create complete visibility of assets and allow process control. Satellite-based technology also offers cyber-secure scalable communications.

Not all satellite services are the same. Indeed, the diversification of satellite services has made this option much more flexible and cost-effective than it was several years ago. By understanding the application, the frequency of transmission, and volume of data, you can ensure the best communications solution fit.

We’re exploring the two most popular options for satellite connectivity in the context of the PSTN switch off, to help you choose the best solution for your needs.

BGAN M2M (now IoT Pro)

Viasat, who own and operate a network of geostationary satellites and ground stations, provide IoT Pro – previously known as the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service. With full IP connectivity, and as it’s a lower bandwidth M2M service, it’s a good fit for the types of applications currently served by PSTN lines.

Designed as a low data volume service for monitoring process control type applications such as SCADA, monthly data plans start at 2MB per month, going up to 50MB per month and beyond. By scrutinizing how the application is generating data, and the structure and format of the files, it is possible to reduce data volumes. Inmarsat use data compression to reduce data volumes to one-third of the cellular volume used for the same application.

Top four benefits of IoT Pro (BGAN M2M) as a PSTN replacement solution:

Terminals are less than 30cm by 30cm – much smaller in size than traditional satellite dishes and consume far less power.
Terminals are designed to be externally mounted giving zero-footprint inside a communications cabinet.
Low power requirements enhance the appeal of BGAN for sites with power constraints.
Some devices have the option of a bolt-on cellular module, which allows them to use LTE in addition to satellite.

Terminals designed to use the IoT Pro service are produced by several manufacturers and Ground Control supplies various options; the Cobham Explorer 540 is a particularly popular M2M device.

Iridium Certus 100

Iridium Certus 100 is a relatively new mid-band service that sits between Iridium’s Short Burst Data service, and its high throughput Certus 700 service. It is designed for applications that require small weight, size and power requirements. Ground Control is one of a very small number of manufacturers worldwide licensed to use the Certus 100 network, and the result is our RockREMOTE series of terminal. RockREMOTE also has a full Linux OS, and storage allowing edge computing-based processing, future-proofing the device and enabling more cost-effective data packet transmissions.

Top five benefits of RockREMOTE as a PSTN replacement solution:

Iridium Certus-connected enabling data anywhere with an easy to deploy omni antenna
Integrated LTE capability offering a turnkey solution for critical infrastructure
Serial to IP forwarding allowing for simple integration with control systems
Comprehensive power management (9v-32v) including toggling via a Power IO input
Robust, designed for industrial use with standard DIN rail mounting.

Making the right choice for you

In many respects, the RockREMOTE and Cobham Explorer 540 perform similarly. Both offer dual satellite / LTE connectivity, to help you balance costs with service availability. Both have very low power requirements so they can run on battery and solar power. Both are small and easy to install, and have expected lifespans of 10-15 years. The latency for the Explorer is approx. 2 seconds, and the RockREMOTE is 1 second – both are perfectly adequate for industrial IoT applications (the difference between the distance between the satellite and the earth – here’s more about how satellite orbit heights affect communication).

The Explorer – using the Inmarsat satellite network – connects to a single geostationary satellite, and, once established, the connection is very stable. However, the Explorer must be able to ‘see’ the satellite, which can make it unsuitable for hilly or wooded areas. The RockREMOTE connects to the Iridium constellation of 66 satellites, which are constantly passing overhead; this means that the antenna can point in any direction and still be picked up by a satellite. That’s a key advantage if your remote site is in a valley or surrounded by trees.

The Explorer is a single unit with both antenna and transceiver in the same casing, which is great for ease of deployment; it does present a slight security risk in the respect that if it were stolen or vandalized, the entire unit is compromised. The RockREMOTE is a two piece design with the transceiver designed to be situated in your facility. The antenna is small and discreet, making this design less vulnerable.

RockREMOTE benefits from frequent firmware updates, and the Linux kernel processor and SD storage create endless opportunities for edge processing of data including MQTT, and local applications for 2025 and beyond.

If you need any further help, that’s what we’re here for. Please contact us and we’ll be happy to provide impartial advice on the best satellite PSTN replacement for you.

Can We Help You?

We understand the challenges facing Utilities and Renewables companies. Our team are experts in getting data from hard-to-reach places – so you don’t have to be.

We are proud to have provided one of our utility customers with 27 years uninterrupted service, making satellite that company’s most reliable system. To learn more about our solutions and how these can help you consistently provide better for your customers, get in touch today.

In the world of industrial IoT, cellular connectivity is the default means of transferring sensor data back to your SCADA system. But what happens if the location your sensors are in is too remote to reliably connect to cellular? Or what if your sensors are on the move, dipping in and out of cellular range? In these scenarios, satellite-enabled IoT is an obvious choice, but has long been viewed as too expensive, too complicated, too fragile, or even not secure enough.

In this webinar, recorded in September 2021, Solutions Architect Matthew Ellison and Channel Partner Manager Rory Ashley seek to dismantle these perceptions, and give real-life examples of where the extra data provided by satellite IoT connectivity has materially improved outcomes – from smart farming to disaster management, environmental monitoring to renewable energy production.

The content is also available as an eBook:

Connectivity Challenges

Terrestrial networks only cover 15% of the Earth’s surface, and focus on populated areas. This leaves a number of businesses unable to reach their assets remotely, and having instead to resort to manpower – with the time delays and additional costs presented by that solution. In these scenarios, satellite connectivity is an obvious choice.

Further, the number one challenge The IoT Magazine stated that IoT faced was cybersecurity, and the risk of hacking. Satellite has a huge advantage over cellular here, as, if needed, an entirely private satellite network can be created with no reliance on, or exposure to, public networks at all.

Satellite vs Cellular from a Cost Perspective

Satellite is not as low cost as cellular, but it is moving in the right direction. Greater competition, better technology, and diversification of offerings has seen the wholesale price of high-throughput satellite tumble in recent years, and it’s our view that prices will continue to lower, as the established players – Inmarsat and Iridium, for example – come up against well funded new entrants like Elon Musk’s Starlink, and Amazon’s Kuiper satellite offerings.

That said, it’s improbable that satellite will replace cellular, as it is likely to always remain a little more expensive; so the applications for satellite IoT are, not unexpectedly, those where cellular networks are unavailable, such as ocean data buoys or remote farms, or where the asset is moving in and out of terrestrial connectivity – such as transport and cargo ships.
Make sure to watch the webinar to see great examples of satellite connectivity in action – and if you have any questions, we’re here to help.

Get in touch

We've implemented satellite IoT infrastructure for decades, and there's very rarely been an obstruction issue we couldn't overcome with a bit of knowledge and ingenuity. We'd be happy to talk to you about your project and offer impartial advice on the best antenna and satellite service for your particular requirements. Call or email us, or complete the form.

Many UK businesses still heavily depend on copper wire-based services to collect data and communicate with remote sites. These hardwired connections have offered reliability and resilience for decades. However, the cost of operating and maintaining outdated copper wire-based analogue services is high, and the limited bandwidth and speeds no longer meet customer expectations. BT Openreach, who own and manage these lines, have therefore called an end to analogue based services. The PSTN network will be switched off in December 2025.

The decision to switch off PSTN creates a necessity for organizational change and large-scale investment. The switch off provides an ideal opportunity for digital transformation, and the removal of existing legacy systems. Businesses are also changing. Organizations are merging Operational Technology (OT) with IT services, drawing the worlds of physical infrastructure and data management closer together. Further, expansion into process control and automation, and data sharing across an organization, creates efficiencies through optimization and greater visibility.

Fibre optic cable as a PSTN solution

Openreach is focused on fibre optic cable as the solution for replacing PSTN. It’s cheaper and more resilient as a product and it offers faster speeds and greater bandwidth to carry more data. The area around an exchange and its network infrastructure which can use fibre, is known as a ‘fibre footprint’. The size of the footprint may be due to economics or physics, but the real communication challenge for PSTN switch off lies outside the footprint.

Utilities providers can pay for a fibre connection to be added to remote sites, and this is a good choice if applications will benefit from 20 times more bandwidth and higher speeds of up to a gigabit per second. However, millions of active PSTN lines at remote sites won’t benefit, and increased sophistication of cyber threats and the prohibitive economic cost of digging fibre to remote locations means a different approach is required.

Satellite communication as a PSTN solution

Several satellite communication services offer secure solutions with varying bandwidth and speeds at viable pricing. What’s more, satellite services go one step further and provide more than an like for like replacement for remote sites with no coverage. Satellite also offers cyber security and resilience at critical locations, even where there is cellular coverage. Implementing built in satellite and cellular communication paths reduces the risks posed by the switch off PSTN lines.

BT Openreach findings

The number and variability in locations, applications and data requirements, means the PSTN replacement will be a mix of solutions. With 16 million lines and channels to manage, most replacements will be simple, straightforward swaps to cellular or fibre. The distance from the exchange and the data volumes are key questions. Certain lines will be better served by fibre connections and some will be more easily replaced by a cellular solution. This leaves an estimated 10% of sites too far from the exchange to be serviced by fibre or broadband over copper, with many of these also requiring more resilience than cellular coverage offers.

RockREMOTE as a satellite-based solution

The potential loss of connection and data transfer from assets can carry heavy penalties, both monetary and reputation damage. The challenge of converting traditional lines into digital communications without such loss can be resolved effectively by adopting the new RockREMOTE technology. The unit, with its hybrid LTE / Iridium Certus connectivity, facilitates data transfer from and to anywhere – only solar power is required to run the RockREMOTE continuously and without loss of connectivity.

With RS232 and RS485 built in, supporting serial to IP migration for telemetry devices, RockREMOTE has a full Linux OS, and even has storage allowing users to move closer to the benefits of edge computing-based processing.

RockREMOTE-Antenna-Transparent

Key Features:

RockREMOTE reaches where other solutions can’t – cellular doesn’t always provide reliable connectivity in remote areas and there is a lack of capacity in rural locations. Also, this will likely get worse with the sunsetting of 2G/3G over the next few years
Provides backup comms – some sites are connectivity-critical and require backup comms when all else (namely cellular or fibre) fails
More cost-effective than fibre – fibre solutions remain costly and difficult to implement, especially if channelling to and installing in remote locations
Requires only solar – it is not uncommon for sites to be powered entirely by renewable energies. RockREMOTE can run purely through solar and does not require a generator or other power source, making it both energy- and cost-efficient.

Final Thoughts…

Understanding the practical business requirements for data transmission from remote sites and then designing a matrix of viable options is undoubtedly a major project. For non-essential applications in areas of good coverage, cellular will always, and appropriately, be considered the easy win.

Utility companies who count PSTN lines in their thousands need to make a start swapping to robust and secure digital IP-based communication technologies. Technologies that allow organizations to securely extend IT infrastructure to every remote corner of their operations, create complete visibility of assets, and allow process control. Satellite technologies also offer proven cyber-secure scalable communications. RockREMOTE is therefore ideal for industrial use cases where sites are remote and satellite communication is the only sensible PSTN switch off solution.

Video guide

The below webinar has also been put together as a handy guide for using satellite communication as your PSTN replacement:

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Atascadero, CA-based Ground Control has merged with two UK based companies, Wireless Innovation and Rock Seven, to provide satellite and cellular connectivity services for M2M and IoT applications around the world. With the combined product range including the best-in-breed RockAIR, RockSTAR and RockFLEET devices, Ground Control offers their customers unrivalled choice and deep industry knowledge.

The merger has been anticipated since Wireless Innovation Ltd acquired Rock Seven in 2018, and Ground Control in 2019, to form a global brand with core expertise in Asset Tracking, IoT & M2M connectivity, managed secure networks including TSAT, Inmarsat BGAN, and Iridium, and global voice and data.

Alastair MacLeod, Ground Control’s CEO, commented: “I’m delighted to lead our rapidly developing organisation at such a pivotal time of growth and opportunity. Ground Control encompasses a wide range of satellite and cellular data solutions from Wireless Innovation and Rock Seven. Through continued innovation and backed by the strength of a single, globally recognised brand, it’s our mission to provide businesses with complete connectivity and control.”

He continued, “Our technology and expertise help deliver important and valuable data sets from anywhere, manage systems where others cannot, and create communications links from the field. From governments, multinationals, and utility providers, to start-ups and entrepreneurs, we develop and deliver the kit that gets our customers’ data back, no matter how remote”.

Established in 2000, Ground Control was a start-up in the city of Atascadero, California. Acquired by Wireless Innovation in 2019, Ground Control continued to be a household name in North America. Now, the group’s new, singular brand encapsulates the company’s technological specialisms and expertise – appealing to utilities, renewables, maritime and agriculture customers in multiple markets – putting the business on a trajectory of becoming the market leading M2M and IoT end-to-end solutions provider.

Along with the company’s new and unique identity, a fully e-commerce enabled website with customer portal arrives August 2021.

About Ground Control

Ground Control was launched when a triumvirate of leading brands united to create a best-of-breed technology and service provider in satellite and IoT. Its mission is nothing less than to provide customers with complete connectivity and control.

Ground Control specialises in retrieving data from remote and harsh environments including freight at sea, areas of natural disasters and from remote climates. Network agnosticism and end-to-end consultancy, design, build and implementation capabilities mean Ground Control can create bespoke client solutions that solve real world problems. Ground Control is proud to partner with leading satellite service providers including Iridium and Inmarsat.

Based in Gloucester and Southampton, UK, and California and Nevada, USA; Ground Control is an expanding, multimillion-dollar company specialising in BGAN, TSAT, VSAT, ToughSAT and Rock products and is a proud Queens Award for Enterprise Winner.

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Welcome Ground Control customers! As you can see, we have a new logo and we’ve made a lot of changes to our website; in this blog post we’ll explain why, and hopefully, get you as excited about our journey as we are.

In 2019, Ground Control was acquired by Wireless Innovation, a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications leader; just prior to this, in 2018, Wireless Innovation had purchased Rock Seven, whose RockAIR, RockSTAR and RockFLEET products might well be familiar to Ground Control customers.

With best-in-class products and a huge amount of combined industry expertise, we knew that if we brought these together under one roof, we would be in a position to offer our global customers unrivalled technology, satellite and IoT services.

We also wanted to reconnect with our mission and purpose; nothing less than to provide customers with complete connectivity and control.

That’s when the new Ground Control logo was born – and with it, a re-statement of our values.

Ground Control's values

Our new site has all of the Ground Control products you’re familiar with; you can search by the product code or name using the search feature at the top right of the site, or access them through the Products navigation dropdown. You’ll also find Rock Seven and Wireless Innovation products too.

If you’re not sure of the best combination of products and services for your needs, get in touch! We have offices in both the USA and UK, so there’ll usually be someone available to speak to, whatever the hour.

Please let us know what you think of the new site and branding; we continue to work hard to enhance our customers’ experience, and your feedback is incredibly valuable.

And thank you for being a Ground Control customer!

Welcome Wireless Innovation customers! Hopefully you’ll have seen our emails and social media posts about this change, but if not, don’t worry, you’re in the right place. In this blog post we’ll explain why we have a new name and website, and hopefully, get you as excited about our journey as we are.

In 2018, Wireless Innovation purchased Rock Seven, whose RockAIR, RockSTAR and RockFLEET products might well be familiar to our customers. We followed that up by purchasing Ground Control in 2019, whose Toughsat mobile satellite system is world-renowned, as is the auto-pointing, portable, satellite internet hotspot fondly known as “The Football”.

We also wanted to reconnect with our mission and purpose; nothing less than to provide customers with complete connectivity and control. Of our three brands, we felt Ground Control best reflected this ambition, and so Wireless Innovation Ltd is now trading as Ground Control.

Our new site has all of the Wireless Innovation products you’re familiar with; you can search by the product code or name using the search feature at the top right of the site, or access them through the Products navigation dropdown. You’ll also find Rock Seven and Ground Control products too.

Please let us know what you think of the new site and branding; we continue to work hard to enhance our customers’ experience, and your feedback is incredibly valuable in this respect.

And thank you for being a Wireless Innovation / Ground Control customer!

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you. Call us or complete the Contact Us form and one of our team will be in touch. We promise to provide objective, expert advice on the best solution for your remote or emergency connectivity requirements, wherever you are in the world.

UK: +44 (0) 1452 751940

USA: 800 773 7168

Welcome Rock Seven customers! Hopefully you’ll have seen our emails and social media posts about this change, but if not, don’t worry, you’re in the right place. In this blog post we’ll explain why we have a new name and website, and hopefully, get you as excited about our journey as we are.

In 2018, leading M2M communications provider Wireless Innovation purchased Rock Seven, and followed that up by purchasing Ground Control in 2019, whose Toughsat mobile satellite system is world-renowned, as is the auto-pointing, portable, satellite internet hotspot fondly known as “The Football”.

With best-in-class products and a huge amount of combined industry expertise, we knew that if we brought these together under one roof, we would be in a position to offer our global customers unrivalled technology, satellite and IoT services.

We also wanted to reconnect with our mission and purpose; nothing less than to provide customers with complete connectivity and control. Of our three brands, we felt Ground Control best reflected this ambition, and so Rock Seven Mobile Services Ltd is now trading as Ground Control.

Finally, we took the opportunity to explore and better express our values.

You can read more about what these mean in our About Us section.

Our new site has all of the Rock Seven products you’re familiar with; you can search by the product code or name using the search feature at the top right of the site, or access them through the Products navigation dropdown. You’ll also find Wireless Innovation and Ground Control products too.

The legal entity is still Rock Seven Mobile Services Ltd, so the company number, VAT number, bank details etc. all still remain the same; invoices and contracts will be rebranded Rock Seven Mobile Services Ltd t/a Ground Control but all terms and conditions remain the same. Our previous telephone numbers and email addresses also still work, but you’ll predominantly hear from us using the Ground Control name going forwards.

Please let us know what you think of the new site and branding; we continue to work hard to enhance our customers’ experience, and your feedback is incredibly valuable in this respect.

And thank you for being a Rock Seven / Ground Control customer!