It’s a challenging time to be a Utility provider. Where once there was predictability, there is now uncertainty.

Consider the climate: temperatures are rising, which places greater strain on the grid as people seek to cool their homes and premises down. Further, extreme weather events are increasing, impacting power lines and towers, and the communication networks that help Utility companies find and identify the issue.

There’s also the growing threat around cyber security. In fact, 44% of respondents to our recent survey of US homeowners said that they considered hackers to present a threat to their Utilities supply.

Related to this is the challenge of ageing infrastructure. With the retirement of 2G and 3G networks impacting telemetry and control, Utilities providers need to explore new means of securely collecting data for their SCADA systems.

Ultimately, all three challenges pivot around reliable and secure data collection.

 

Data is the key to operational success in Utilities

The key to operational success in Utilities is to collect accurate, real-time data from infrastructure and assets, at every point in the supply chain – from networks to plants, treatment environments to customers.

Armed with better data, utilities companies can more effectively model the impact of extreme weather events, and plan accordingly. They can measure wind speeds and water levels at wind farms and hydro-electric facilities in real-time, knowing when the conditions are right to increase renewable energy production. They can determine when remote facilities are working optimally, and when they are not, and in some instances, they can even resolve the problem through remote commands, without having to send an engineer onsite.

However, the number and severity of cyber threats to utility companies continues to grow exponentially as the world becomes increasingly connected. According to research firm Gartner, in 2020, there were 20.4 billion internet-connected devices, with approximately 37 percent of these being used outside consumer settings—including large numbers dedicated to infrastructure monitoring and control.

What cyber security threats are utility and renewable companies facing?

For Utilities and Renewables, the remote site environments and silo operation sites are a tempting prospect for cyber attacks. McKinsey reports that both geographic distance and organisational complexity make the utility industry vulnerable. Indeed, there’s potential threat impact across the whole value chain:

Utilities cyber attacks risk diagram

However, the cyber threats to electric-power and gas security are not too great to overcome. McKinsey advises that a structured approach that ‘applies communication, organisational and process frameworks along with technical improvements in a few areas, can significantly reduce cyber-related risks for utilities.’

The adoption of secure and reliable remote connectivity services can provide an effective barrier and line of defence in the event of a cyber threat or attack.

 
Our latest ebook explores the challenges facing Utilities companies, but quickly turns to the connectivity options available to mitigate the risks of cyber attacks and ageing infrastructure.

Ground Control works with utilities and renewable energy companies around the world, and together we have devised strategies that provide robust, reliable and secure data transmissions, balancing the value of the data with the cost of retrieval.

If you’d like to find out more about our work with Utilities companies, get in touch today.

When living and working in remote locations, there are limited options when it comes to internet connectivity and telecommunications. For individuals working for example, at sea, or on an oil rig, this operational challenge is likely something they are very familiar with. Thanks to advancements in technology however, there are two popular options for IP communications over satellite – VSAT and Viasat’s BGAN – now known as Go-anywhere Pro.

At Ground Control we enable individuals, businesses and organizations to operate efficiently and safely, no matter where they are based in the world. So for those not in the know, or new to facilitating operation connectivity in remote areas, we have broadly outlined how VSAT and Go-anywhere Pro (previously known as BGAN) work, and their relative strengths and weaknesses in the delivery of broadband internet.

What is VSAT?

VSAT – “Very Small Aperture Terminal” – is a satellite ground station that allows businesses and individuals to transmit and receive data, voice and video via satellites. The dish antenna will always be smaller than 3.8 meters in this classification and in most cases, around 1.0 meter. VSAT systems are comprised of four main elements:

  1. Antenna
  2. Modem
  3. Transmitter (BUC)
  4. Receiver (LNB)

Illustration of VSAT set up with appropriate labels

How does VSAT work?

The VSAT antenna dish is positioned in direct sight of the satellite. The antenna receives data from the satellite, which the receiver (LNB) collects. The receiver then converts the data into a lower frequency signal which can be transmitted over coax cable and interpreted by the modem and thus user device, for example, a laptop. Conversely, the transmitter (BUC) transforms data received via the user device and modem, back into a higher frequency (usually Ku and Ka Band), to ensure this can reach the satellite – 22,300 miles above the earth’s equator.

The antenna consists of small terminals which can be installed across distributed sites, and connected to a central hub via the satellite. With VSAT, data is either relayed from these terminals (also termed small remote ground stations) to other terminals (in mesh topology), or master ground station “hubs” (in star topology). In the case of the latter, the “hub” controls the entire operation of the network. For one end user to communicate with another, each transmission must first go to the hub station via the satellite link, the hub station then retransmits this via the satellite to the other end user’s VSAT. This tends to be implemented in situations where there is a Head office – Branch office type hierarchy, and is able to accommodate a large number of terminals.

VSAT Star topology

Animation showing basics of VSAT star topology set up

In contrast, with a mesh topology, all terminals can communicate with each other via the satellite without going through a central hub. This set up normally supports 5 – 30 terminals.

VSAT Mesh topology

Animation showing basics of VSAT mesh topology set up

What is Go-anywhere Pro?

Go-anywhere Pro – (previously known as BGAN – “Broadband Global Area Network”) – is a satellite network which consists of four satellites owned by Viasat. The network can deliver high-speed voice and data connectivity via BGAN terminals, which are often both compact (size of a laptop) and portable.

Inmarsat licenses several manufacturers to develop BGAN terminals that communicate with the orbiting Inmarsat satellites. Ground Control offers all available Viasat terminals, including one we manufacture called the MCD-4800 – “The Football”.

How do Go-anywhere Pro terminals work?

The Go-anywhere Pro terminal is placed within a clear view of the sky, from there the terminal obtains its position using GPS. The terminal then needs a line-of-sight to one of the satellites within the network. This means there cannot be any tree, wall or building between the terminal and satellite. Usually units are set up outside, but they can be inside, if the satellite can be seen through a window. To achieve alignment, some terminals are turned slowly by hand, until they indicate that they have found the satellite – manual pointing. Or in the case of the MCD-4800, the unit automatically aligns with the satellite – auto-pointing. Finally, often just with the touch of a button, the terminal auto-negotiates with the satellite and connects.

Computers and other devices are then connected to the Go-anywhere Pro terminal, either through a simple ethernet cable, or via Wi-Fi.

VSAT vs Go-anywhere Pro

Broadly speaking, the differences between VSAT and Go-anywhere Pro can be grouped into the following categories: Coverage, Reliability, Cost and Security.

Coverage

The Viasat Go-anywhere Pro satellite constellation provides a seamless network that operates with near global coverage. VSAT coverage is similar, but in most cases it is not seamless as users will often require separate contracts on different satellites and teleports.

Additionally, if coverage is required while physically moving, it’s important to note the distinction between mobile and on-the-move connectivity. Some VSATs are considered mobile, insofar as they can be packed into, or attached on top of a vehicle to be set up in different locations. But VSATs with phased arrays or electronically steered antennas such as the Kymeta u8 GEO, can deliver on-the-move connectivity. Likewise, select BGAN terminals like the MCD-4800, support connectivity on-the-move via auto-tracking.

Furthermore, location, or more specifically likely weather in said location, can also be a very important coverage factor. VSAT satellite technology operates in a number of different frequencies, including C band (4 and 6 GHz), Ku band (12 and 14 GHz) and Ka band (20 and 31 GHz). Although Ka band enables users to send more information per second, this higher frequency is also the most impacted by weather conditions, for example heavy cloud, rain and snow. This phenomenon known as “rain fade”, also affects Ku band, albeit to a lesser extent. Conversely, the L band (1 to 2.7 GHz), used by Go-anywhere Pro terminals, can deliver a stable connection, even in adverse weather conditions.

Reliability

There are multiple satellites with coverage of most areas of the world, creating built-in options to reroute traffic for continual service even when there is a satellite failure. This makes both VSAT and BGAN very reliable, with availability rates of 99.5% and above. However, reliability during use is arguably dependent on two important factors:

  1. Number of concurrent users: The number of simultaneous users will impact the connection. Due to available bandwidth, generally Go-anywhere Pro is used for individual users or small teams with basic needs. Whereas VSAT is able to accommodate large operations, with dozens of users and a wider base of applications.
  2. Connection speed: Go-anywhere Pro is capable of achieving standard IP data speeds of up to 492 kbps and streaming speeds from 32bps to 650 kbps (Go-anywhere Pro Streaming HDR). However VSAT bandwidth can be selected from 64 Kbps to multiple Megabits per second. Meaning users can send and receive large quantities of data much faster with VSAT.

 

Cost

Initial cost – set up

Go-anywhere Pro terminals series from $1,295 to $13,495 for units with auto-pointing – simply, a device capable of aligning itself with an appropriate satellite. For Go-anywhere Pro terminals that provide on-the-move connectivity via auto-tracking, units are priced upwards of $13,495. As installation for Go-anywhere Pro terminals is relatively simple, often users are fine without assistance from a technician.

Similarly, VSAT costs vary significantly, depending on multiple factors including the bandwidth the equipment uses and size of hardware. Entry level setups start around 3,000 but can be $10,000+ for large scale operations. For these, organizations must also factor in costs for mounting solutions and installation. In contrast to satellite TV, in which antenna dishes only need to receive data, VSAT antenna dishes need to be placed within one tenth of a degree to ensure data can also be sent to the satellite in the sky. So a trained technician is required for installation.

VSAT systems with auto-pointing are priced from $20,000, but due to the automation, these units often don’t require trained manpower for installation.

Operating costs – Service plans

VSAT airtime plans usually have a fixed monthly rate, which is based on the bandwidth speed – ranging from $200 to $20,000/month. Some VSAT bandwidth plans enable users to pick their desired upload and download speeds, while more Enterprise Level VSAT networks have a monthly metered service – enabling network operators to build a higher quality network.

Go-anywhere Pro’s Standard IP service is charged per Megabyte (MB) of data received and/or transferred, which ranges from $3 to $7 per MB. Generally speaking, when moving large amounts of data, VSAT is a more cost-effective solution long term. However, new variations in Go-anywhere Pro pricing plans have allowed high data users to reduce the price per MB to near VSAT prices, at high volumes. We recommend speaking to a satellite professional who will be able to take your application needs and projected daily, monthly and annual usage into account, to help you identify the most cost-effective package.

Licenses

In addition to service plans, depending on the operation location(s), users may be required to obtain appropriate licensing. Africa, Latin America and Asia, all have stricter regulations regarding licensing – so authorisation may be required. Licensing varies from country to country for both BGAN and VSAT, however BGAN licensing is usually less expensive than VSAT. Organizations should analyse their case with an expert, so they know what to expect in the different countries they plan to operate within.

Security

VSAT and Go-anywhere Pro networks are standards based and support IP (Internet Protocol) and its variants through a protocol called IPoS (Internet Protocol over Satellite – TIA 1008). Both also support encryption of all data transmitted between two sites or multiple sites, which make the creation of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) possible. This capability enables users to achieve a far greater level of security.

In summary, there are clear advantages to both Go-anywhere Pro and VSAT technology. VSAT is best for permanent installations that need ample bandwidth, for example, delivering broadband to multiple users, at the same time, in off-grid areas. Go-anywhere Pro is better suited to single users or small teams with sporadic usage patterns, and mobile use, for example, vehicles on land and at sea. However, this article is for the purposes of broad understanding only. There are a lot of factors at play, and we advise anyone setting up a remote operation which requires connectivity, to get in touch with our experienced team.

Want to deliver reliable connectivity to your off-grid operations?

There are a lot of components to consider when deciding on the best solution for remote, reliable, connectivity. With over 20 years experience, our expert team is on hand to help guide you through this process. And as a preferred Iridium and Viasat partner we can also help you maintain connectivity, while reducing your daily, annual and ongoing costs.

Can We Help?

With 20 years of experience, we can help you make the best choices for your critical communication infrastructure.

We’re not invested in selling you a specific product or connections, just the best solution for your needs. Complete the form, email hello@groundcontrol.com, or call us: Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania: +44 (0) 1452 751940 | North and South America: USA: 800 773 7168

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In this webinar, recorded live on 26th January 2022, four experts in the field of IoT / M2M connectivity discussed the challenges Utilities and Renewables companies face over the next decade, from ageing infrastructure to cyber security to climate change.

Industrial IoT in the time of COVID-19

First, Damian Lewis from Inmarsat revealed the findings from a recent research project into “Industrial IoT in the time of COVID-19“. In Electrical Utilities, Inmarsat discovered that IoT projects represented the highest proportion of overall IT budgets. When executed, IoT projects were delivering a 30% cost saving over a five year period.

But connectivity was plaguing these projects. 75% of the electrical utilities companies surveyed encountered connectivity problems, and 59% of respondents stated that terrestrial networks like fibre and cellular are not entirely suitable for their needs. Despite this, only 32% are using satellite connectivity – far below the survey average of 47%.

Unpredictability is the new normal

Christian Strarup from Cobham Satcom looked at the challenges Utilities companies face, with more and longer outages due to extreme weather. There is also governmental pressure to fix the issue without raising costs for consumers. Christian’s slides include a list of considerations Utilities companies need to make in order to shore up their infrastructure, and ensure that they can continue to deliver services under increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

You can download Cobham Satcom’s eBook which goes into more detail on these topics here.

Weathering the storm – case studies

Liz Wilson from Ground Control looked at three examples from the Utilities and Renewables sectors, where companies have already started to respond to these challenges. In the first case study, we hear about a critical gas pipe which needs reliable sensor data in order to operate safely, and utilises satellite connectivity for reliability and security.

The second case study sees renewable energy company RWE using real-time data on water levels and precipitation to know when to increase the amount of energy they can supply to the grid. Because their reservoirs are out of terrestrial connectivity range, they’re leveraging satellite in a clever and cost effective way to extract the data.

Finally a community windfarm in the Shetland Islands who’ve anticipated that extreme weather *will* impact their infrastructure, and taken proactive steps to minimise the damage.

PSTN end of life – case study and impacts

Finally, Nigel Garnham from Atos looks at how British Utilities companies are responding to the switch off of the PSTN network, exploring a range of connectivity options. Ageing infrastructure impacts many Utilities companies worldwide, and the technologies that Nigel advocates you should investigate to future-proof your infrastructure are widely applicable.

We hope you enjoy the webinar!

Get in touch

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, 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.
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In its most basic term, lone workers are defined as employees who perform an activity in isolation from other workers, without close or direct supervision. Working in numerous industries, there are an estimated 53 million lone workers across the globe, with almost half (25 million) operating within North America.

In addition to safety concerns faced by lone workers simply as a result of being alone, many also work in remote areas. Communication plans and tracking can reduce the chance of accidents when lone working and ensure swift response times in the case of an emergency. While there are regulatory and contractual standards in place for lone workers, procedures surrounding lone worker safety are very much evolving.

With rapidly changing needs and increasingly challenging environments, it’s imperative organisations continually evaluate their strategies, hardware and software to ensure they are able to maintain worker safety and operational efficiency.

To better understand how lone workers in North America currently remain safe and connected when out of cellular range, Ground Control in partnership with TracPlus, surveyed almost 250 lone workers and individuals responsible for the safety and supervision of lone workers.
 

Lone worker operations in North America today

How often do lone workers travel out of mobile phone range?

Graph illustrating how often lone workers within different industries travel out of mobile phone range
 
Lone workers and lone worker supervisors were asked to indicate on a scale from 0 – 100, whether they ever travelled out of mobile phone range. As can be seen in the above graph, on average, lone workers sometimes travel out of mobile phone range. It’s also worth noting that lone workers actually responded with a lower than average figure than those responsible for them (52 vs 58).

Our data also indicates that 10% of respondents are quite often out of mobile phone range, as these reported a figure of 75 or above.

When analysing the data grouped by industry, recipients from the Mining, Forestry and Utilities sectors provided the highest average scores, and those within Transport & Cargo, the lowest. This indicates that those working within Mining, Forestry and Utilities, are more likely to travel out of mobile phone range than those in the Transport & Cargo sector.

 

How many lone workers have experienced the following situations?

Graph to illustrate how often lone workers experience various situations at work
 
Results show over 60% of lone workers surveyed have been in a situation where they have needed to contact someone and were unable to, due to lack of mobile phone reception. Comparatively, for those within the Mining and Renewables industries, this figure rose to 88% and 73% respectively.

Further, almost one fifth (19%) of those surveyed reported having an accident, and struggling to get help. Encouragingly, none of the lone workers from the Forestry sector indicated having an accident when lone working, but this increased to over 40% within the Oil and Gas industry. Subsequently, workers within Oil and Gas were also most likely to report having felt unsafe (54%); 10% above the overall average.
 

How frequently do those responsible for lone workers check in with them?

Graph to illustrate how often those responsible for lone workers check in with them, split by industry
 
Overall 28% of respondents reported daily check-ins with their lone workers, 39% weekly and 45% as needed on a demand basis. Just 17% confirmed having a tracking system which allows lone workers to check in themselves, and over 10% disclosed checking in multiple times per day.

Interestingly, those within the Forestry sector were most likely to report more frequent check-ins – 75% indicating as needed and 50% every day. Additionally, 50% of those within Forestry also confirmed having a tracking system whereby their workers could check themselves in. This is particularly significant, considering the overall average reported was just 17%. In contrast, none of the respondents within the Transport & Cargo nor Utilities industries, indicated having a tracking system lone workers could use. Given the operational efficiency benefits these types of systems can deliver, this is quite surprising.

 

How robust are current lone worker communication strategies?

Graph to illustrate which industries are best able to deal with comms and tracking when their lone workers are out of cell phone range
 
As illustrated above, only 49% of respondents reported having the ability to both send and receive messages while lone workers were out of mobile phone range. This figure remained the same when recipients were asked whether they had a procedure which could always be followed (even if there had been an accident or equipment failure), that enabled messages to be sent and received without mobile phone reception. Interestingly for those within the Mining industry, despite 67% reporting the ability to send and receive messages while out of mobile range, just 33% confirmed the ability to do this under all circumstances, for example in the event of an accident or equipment failure.

Additionally, less than one third (32%) of respondents overall confirmed they were able to track the location of a lone worker out of mobile phone range. This fell to just 8% in the Forestry industry.

Finally, 8% of respondents overall and 15% of those within the Transport & Cargo and Forestry sectors, indicated that they were unable to support any of these communication scenarios.

In summary, although our research represents just a snapshot of lone worker operations in North America, it does highlight that organisations still have some way to go in terms of safeguarding lone workers; a sentiment which holds true across all surveyed industries.

The future of lone worker safety: The RockSTAR

Communication plans and tracking are imperative to lone worker safety and increasing operational efficiency. With this in mind, it would be remiss of us to not talk about the RockSTAR device by Rock Seven (now trading as Ground Control). This powerful, handheld device allows the user to send and receive short messages from anywhere on Earth with a clear view of the sky. The unit is waterproof, ruggedized, and built to withstand the most challenging environments. And perhaps most importantly, the RockSTAR is able to transmit every minute with 15-second updates, ensuring teams know the whereabouts and safety of their lone workers at all times.

What is TracPlus?

TracPlus is a trusted real-time tracking and communication platform of first responders, government agencies, militaries, and other critical operators around the world. It has been developed to deliver situational awareness to first responders, irrespective of who owns the asset, what the asset is, who provides the tracking, or what the platform or signal type is – be it radio, cellular or satellite.

The RockSTAR - Personal Tracking Device in Action

Get in touch

Ground Control and TracPlus have worked in partnership for over eight years, developing essential, cost-effective solutions for organisations and their remote field workers all over the world.

If you’d like to get in touch with our expert team, simply complete our online form, or you can email sales@groundcontrol.com or phone us on +1.805.783.4600 (USA) or +44 (0) 1452 751940 (UK).
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For Oil and Gas companies, selecting the right satellite connectivity to connect people or machines can be complex. We’ve built a simple decision tree to help you determine the best satellite solutions to connect people or machines, whether your throughput requirements are low or high, fixed or mobile.

*Mobile can also be fixed

These products are of course not your only options for these requirements, but they are our top picks, and here’s why.

Iridium Extreme 9575 PTT

The Extreme 9575 PTT is Iridium’s top-of-the-line push-to-talk satellite phone. It offers superior PTT, voice, SMS texting, GPS, low-speed Internet, SOS button, and real-time web-tracking. This ruggedized satellite phone works in all weather conditions and is an ideal communications tool for remote Oil and Gas sites, and for total connectivity wherever engineers travel.

Toughsat XP

Toughsat XP is Ground Control’s flagship professional series mobile satellite system, incorporating a powerful feature set that operates both normal and extreme remote site environments. The quick one-button deployment provides high-speed WiFi for up to 256 devices from any well site in less than 3.5 minutes.

MCD-4800

The MCD-4800 (“The Football”) is an auto-pointing Viasat satellite terminal that requires no user training to operate. Simply place the weatherproof case anywhere on site, turn it on and then close the lid – no pointing necessary. Within a minute the MCD-4800 becomes a powerful WiFi hotspot accessible by any wireless device within a 100-meter range for up to 5 hours on internal battery power.

RockBLOCK 9602

Perfect for M2M / IoT low throughput well site requirements, the RockBLOCK 9602 satellite modem utilizes the power of the Iridium® Satellite Network. The versatile and reliable RockBLOCK delivers plug-and-play satellite connectivity, from any point on Earth including the polar regions.

Hughes 9502

The 9502 terminal delivers affordable, global, end-to-end IP data connectivity and is an ideal choice for Oil and Gas companies. The exceptional low power consumption (1W idle) of the Hughes 9502 makes it possible to provide end-to-end IP connectivity to sites that are off-grid. This breakthrough provides end-to-end IP connectivity to any power-challenged Oil and Gas locations that involve sensitive power budgets.

RockREMOTE

RockREMOTE delivers a reliable and flexible, all IP-based, dual-mode LTE-Satellite communications solution for fixed, semi-fixed or mobile M2M / IoT applications worldwide. Customers select between Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Serial RS232/485 for their communications interface requirements. The solution combines the RockREMOTE terminal, the Iridium Certus network and LTE cellular connectivity, end-to-end networking and the powerful Cloudloop platform. It can be tailored to address a variety of fixed and mobile communications challenges faced by Oil and Gas engineers.

SCADASat

The SCADASat by TSAT satellite system is designed to meet the demanding requirements of the Oil & Gas industry. SCADASat provides a private satellite network operating a direct communication channel between a process control centre and these often remote locations. By locating a private TSAT3000 HUB at a control centre, complete independence of any public infrastructure is obtained, and secure and reliable communication between Oil and Gas sites is assured.

Can We Help You?

With 20 years of experience, we can help you make the best choices for your remote connectivity, whether you need one or several thousand devices!

We’re not invested in selling you a specific product or connections, just the best solution for your needs.

Call us on +44 (0) 1452 751940 (Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania) or 800 773 7168 (North and South America), complete the form, or email hello@groundcontrol.com.

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Nobody questions the value of data extracted from oil well sites. From exploration to flowback testing, and drilling to recovery, there is both routine and failure data to be captured, stored, shared and analyzed.

In many cases, this data is out of reach of terrestrial communication networks, giving production companies two choices: send someone to retrieve the data, or set up a satellite communications network.

In this blog post we’re comparing the pros and cons of both options. Full disclosure: we believe satellite connectivity is the more scalable, cost-effective and safe approach, but we’ll be as objective as a satellite communications company can be!

Field Engineer vs. BGAN machine

Field Engineer vs BGAN machine infographic

Here’s a full breakdown of the relative costs of operation

An experienced Field Engineer costs on average $68,132 per year. Plus expenses and other benefits including company vehicles and overtime charge out rates.

The cost of operating a BGAN satellite connectivity terminal can be as little as $63 per month for up to 20MB – a saving of $68,069 annually and $680,690 over the typical 10 years lifetime of a BGAN terminal.

Gas is an ever-increasing expense and the cost of fuel has increased around the world. The average Field Engineer will travel on average 25,000 miles per year. With the average gas price currently $3.34, this amounts to almost $3,500 in fuel costs alone; with insurance and taxable miles on top, and of course chargeable time.

Time is money. Onsite maintenance of traditional connectivity devices can take several hours to service – with on-site visits taking place on average once per week. Even then, there is no guarantee of the issues being resolved without further callbacks. Installation of a BGAN device mitigates the need for on-site Engineers. With a reliable uptime of 99.9%, BGAN requires minimal servicing, maintenance or ongoing equipment checks.

A single weekly call-out based on the average Field Engineer’s salary is a day rate of $272.52. With expenses, it is likely to be around $500, each time the system fails and on the basis that the fault can be rectified the same day. BGAN is highly reliable – even when installed in the most remote locations. Installation of one BGAN satellite connectivity device across the oil well network of ten pumps could save tens of thousands of dollars each year.

Servicing, ongoing maintenance and fault checking is costly work. In addition, equipment required to measure and transmit data from oil well sites often costs hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per month. Installation of a BGAN satellite connectivity device mitigates these costs completely. Reporting on exception, the costs to transmit and measure data are as little as $2 a day.

BGAN satellite connectivity devices are incredibly cost-efficient. The typical hardware and airtime requirements for a remote oil site are just $2 a day, or $756 per year. Compared with the average cost of a Field Engineer, the savings to your business are in excess of $67,376 every, single, year.

Want to know how you can reduce your call out costs?

We’re a preferred Iridium and Inmarsat partner and can help you to reduce your daily, annual and ongoing connectivity costs. It’s what we do best and we’re always here to help. Email us on hello@groundcontrol.com or call:

UK and RoW +44 (0) 1452 751940

USA +1.805.783.4600
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What do we mean by portable? Portable and mobile are often used interchangeably in the satellite internet broadband context, and the water gets muddied even further when you bring satellite phones into the equation. For Ground Control, we define these three groups of products as follows:

  • Portable: can be carried and deployed by a single person; delivers satellite broadband. Most terminals are capable of voice calls, too.
  • Mobile: the device does not need to be pointed and can be used while in-motion – fixed to a car, truck or train, for example, or for rapid fixed deployment (while maritime and aviation applications can also be described as mobile, they have their own categories).
  • Handheld: satellite phones. These are chiefly designed for voice rather than data, although some will deliver a small amount of data for tracking or short text messages.

 
Now that’s cleared up, let’s look at the best devices for your portable satellite internet needs. The key comparison points you should be looking at are:

Broadband speeds

While these portable devices cannot boast the sorts of speeds you can expect from a fibre broadband connection, they are typically used when there are no other terrestrial connections available. There’s a wide range of upload and download speeds available. If you’re not sure what speeds you’ll need, here’s a quick guide:

Devices

Broadband Speed

Good For
MCD-4800
Explorer 510
Hughes 9202M		 Up to 464 Kbps download
448 Kbps upload shared		 Phone services | Email | Instant messaging | Internet browsing | Live video broadcasting | Large file transfers | Video conferencing
Explorer 710
Hughes 9211		 650 Kbps download streaming
650 Kbps upload streaming		 Faster file transfers | Video streaming connectivity | Class 1 terminals
MCD-MissionLINK Up to 700 Kbps download
352 Kbps upload		 Faster file transfers | Multiple Iridium voice channels available
Toughsat Flyaway 20 Mbps download
7 Mbps upload		 Live event broadcasting | Video streaming (Netflix and Youtube work well at this speed) | Multiple users | Speeds depend on size of individual networks and transmitter power

 

Battery life

Self-explanatory, really; for how long will your device keep providing you with a WiFi hotspot before it needs recharging? All of the times listed below assume that the device is in active use; they have substantially longer standby times.

Devices

Battery Life
Explorer 510
Explorer 710		 3.5 hours
Hughes 9211 4 hours
MCD-4800 5 hours
Hughes 9202M 5.5 hours
MCD-MissionLINK 6 hours
Toughsat Flyaway Mains powered

 

Ingress Protection (IP) rating

If you’re going to be using your device outside, it’ll need some degree of ingress protection, and all of these devices are pretty robust. The Toughsat Flyaway is designed to be used outside in extreme environments, but the satellite router is designed for use indoors or in a protective IP rated enclosure.

Devices

IP Rating

Definition
Hughes 9202M
Hughes 9211		 IP55 Not completely protected from dust ingress but will still function; will function if a water jet is pointed at it
Explorer 510
Explorer 710
MCD-MissionLINK		 IP66 Completely protected from dust ingress; will function if a powerful water jet is pointed at it
MCD-4800 IP67 Completely protected from dust ingress; can be immersed in water up to 1m for up to 30 minutes

 

Satellite connectivity

If you’re not familiar with how satellite orbits affect communication, it’s worth reading our blog post on the topic. The short version is that if you choose a geostationary orbit (GEO), you need to remember that the device usually needs to be pointed at the satellite (after which you’ll have a very robust connection), and that the device won’t work in the polar regions. A device connecting with satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) will work anywhere in the world, and doesn’t require pointing.

Devices

Satellite Airtime Provider

GEO or LEO
MCD-4800*
Explorer 510
Explorer 710
Hughes 9202M
Hughes 9211		 Inmarsat Geostationary
MCD-MissionLINK Iridium Low Earth Orbit
Toughsat Flyaway* Ku Band VSAT Networks Geostationary

*These devices auto-point to the satellite

 

Price range

Remember that you’ll need to pay both for the device and for the airtime, so these estimates are a guide only.

Devices

Price Range
Explorer 510 <$2,500
Hughes 9202M $2,500 – $4,000
Hughes 9211
Explorer 710		 $4,000 – $6,000
MCD-MissionLINK
MCD-4800		 $12,000 – $14,000
Toughsat Flyaway $16,000 – $20,000

 

So, it’s not a very satisfying answer, but with such a wide range of options and functionality, the best portable satellite device is the one that best meets your needs. If you need any help, that’s what we’re here for, so please get in touch.

Can We Help You?

With 20 years of experience, we can help you make the best choices for your remote renewables connectivity infrastructure.

We’re not invested in selling you a specific product or connections, just the best solution for your needs.

Call us on +44 (0) 1452 751940 (Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania) or 800 773 7168 (North and South America), complete the form, or email hello@groundcontrol.com.

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The IoT M2M Council recently reported a potential threat to “millions of routers and IoT devices”; malware named BotenaGo, identified by Alien Labs. This comes after a Zscaler report that IoT malware attacks rose 700% during the pandemic, 59% of which came from devices in manufacturing and retail.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of great advice to help mitigate the threat of IoT malware, and we’ve adapted this specifically for relevance to satellite IoT.

1. Monitor network traffic and unreasonable bandwidth usage

Can you review and analyze the amount of data each device in your network is using? Can you set alerts to ensure any unauthorized or unexpected data surges are shut down quickly? There are solutions available today that make this easy, such as Cloudloop; investing in one of these won’t prevent attacks but they will help you limit the damage.

2. Ensure minimal exposure to the internet / isolate IoT networks

Most satellite IoT users, whether you’re using satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) or geostationary, retrieve your data from your satellite service provider’s ground station using the internet at some point – and you have choices over how secure you make that connection. For example, this diagram shows a very simplified networking diagram for the RockREMOTE, a satellite IoT connectivity device.

 

Network-diagram-for-RockREMOTE

After the data from either the satellite or cellular network is sent to the land network connection, users choose between delivering that data via the internet, or using a VPN; the latter minimizes your exposure to the internet and is recommended for critical applications.

There is a further option for companies concerned with critical national infrastructure, such as Oil & Gas and Utilities, and that is to operate an entirely private networking solution. This service, from TSAT, is designed specifically for SCADA / telemetry networks, and essentially places a ground station at your premises; it does not use any public infrastructure connectivity such as the internet.

Further, the TSAT system has many features to prevent unauthorized access to traffic communicated via the satellite link, regardless of the traffic type (TCP/IP or serial), including the option of AES-256 encryption. In our view, it’s certainly worth exploring. The hardware is more expensive than your average satellite connectivity device, but once you’ve taken into account the simplified networking and lower data transmission costs, it can deliver, and has delivered, lower operating costs.

How private satellite networks work

3. Use a properly configured firewall

An effective firewall will protect against:

  • Network threats: DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) and application-layer attacks which may disrupt the integrity and availability of the Service Provider’s network.
  • Device threats: preventing devices from connecting to unknown services. This reduces the chances of devices being compromised.
  • Service abuse: preventing IoT devices from being used unexpectedly, which can result in revenue leakage for the Service Provider or the application owner.

4. Update your passwords

Clearly not specific to satellite IoT but this is such an important point, we couldn’t leave it out. Remember, the infamous Colonial Pipeline hack in April 2021 was made possible because of a single compromised password which allowed the hackers to gain entry through an (unused but still viable) VPN account.

If you could use some objective advice on improving the security within your satellite IoT network, please get in touch with the Ground Control team. We have customers providing critical national infrastructure services globally, and have delivered secure, reliable connectivity in multiple applications.

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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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IoT-M2M-Blog-Post

Two of the technologies that you’ll often hear about in the context of device networking are M2M (machine-to-machine) and IoT (Internet of Things). But what are they and how do they differ?

What is M2M and IoT?

In simple terms, M2M is where machines connect to each other using a network to share data, such as machines, sensors or appliances. An M2M connection is a direct, point-to-point connection between two networked devices using wired or wireless communication channels – such as ethernet and cellular networks.

M2M technology is present in our homes, offices and cars. Controlling electrical appliances like smart bulbs and connecting Bluetooth from your smartphone in your car are just two examples of M2M applications at home. Here, the smart bulbs and your smartphone are the two machines interacting with each other; likewise, your smartphone with your car.

IoT is essentially the next step. It’s an evolution of M2M that increases the things that device connectivity can achieve. It’s a network of devices – not a point-to-point connection like M2M – that exchange data over a network or “cloud” of networked devices. The technologies used by IoT devices allow users to create fast, flexible, secure networks that connect a wide variety of devices. The data can also be monitored and controlled using a platform too, allowing businesses to closely monitor their ‘things’.
 

“IoT is itself a subset of M2M technology. IoT involves communication between machines without any human input, making it by definition a form of M2M communication. However, IoT expands the power and potential of M2M technology in new ways.”

 
The biggest difference between M2M and IoT is that an M2M system uses point-to-point communication. An IoT system, meanwhile, typically places its devices within a cloud network that allows larger-scale integration and more sophisticated applications. However, there are also further distinct differences:

M2M

IoT
Machine-to-machine direct communication Links a number of machines together both directly and indirectly
Supports point-to-point communication only Communication takes place in the cloud
Does not necessarily require an internet connection An active internet connection is required
Mostly hardware-based Hardware and software-based
Normally communicate with one device at a time Users can access multiple devices simultaneously
Data delivery through mobile or fixed networks Data delivery depends on the internet protocol (IP) network*

 
(Source: Parker Engineering)
 
*There is nuance here. For example, a yacht race organizer tracking multiple participants’ location via satellite is a good example of IoT in action, however, location data from the yachts to the cloud service does not need to be delivered via IP. The internet is only required for data delivery once the data has landed from space.

In summary…

Both IoT and M2M technologies enable machines to exchange data autonomously and perform tasks with limited human intervention. Yet, IoT and M2M have a number of distinct differences that we’ve highlighted here, depending on connection type, application and scalability.

The two are different solutions and provide different levels of data exchange and collection. Both, however, are geared toward creating a more connected and “smart” world.

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We're here to help. With highly experienced staff based in the UK and USA, we're here to talk through your most challenging remote connectivity requirements.

Complete the form, or if you prefer to speak to someone directly, call us on +44 (0) 1452 751940 (Europe, Asia, Africa) or +1.805.783.4600 (North and South America).
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