The Flexibility Gap: Challenges Facing Today’s Satellite Operators

By Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Technical Officer at ST Engineering iDirect

The satellite communications (satcom) industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by surging global connectivity demands, increasingly complex operations and the imperative for consistent, scalable service delivery.

At the heart of this evolution are software-defined networks and multi-orbit (NGSO/GEO) constellations, which unlock new opportunities while also introducing distinct challenges around efficiency, reliability and operational agility.

Addressing the flexibility gap

For many operators, these rapid shifts have revealed a critical “flexibility gap.” Legacy ground infrastructures, though historically reliable and foundational, were architected for a different era - one that cannot fully support today’s dynamic and converging satellite-terrestrial ecosystems.

The pressing need now is for networks that are adaptive, software-defined and designed to complement telco convergence strategies. Closing this gap demands not only technological innovation but also a reimagining of operational approaches and business models.

Emerging AI and machine learning (ML) technology is at the forefront of this change, automating manual tasks and delivering predictive insights that revolutionize network management. When integrated with cloud-native, software-defined networks, these technologies create autonomous ecosystems capable of real-time adaptation and unprecedented performance.

Equally critical in this landscape are flexible business models that accelerate time to market. In a fiercely competitive environment, operators that cannot rapidly deploy and scale new services risk falling behind more agile, forward-thinking competitors.

Together, technological innovation and adaptable commercial strategies will define the next chapter of satellite communications.

The challenges associated with legacy ground technology

Traditional ground infrastructure was built with stability and reliability at its core, ensuring that mission-critical operations ran smoothly. While these attributes remain essential, today’s rapidly evolving, distributed service models demand far greater agility and adaptability.

Legacy systems face significant challenges in this dynamic landscape. Lengthy deployment cycles frequently delay time-to-service, slowing innovation and responsiveness. Meanwhile, investments in infrastructure designed for peak capacity often remain inefficient and underutilized, as these systems are built to handle maximum demand that occurs infrequently.

Additionally, rigid architectures struggle to handle fluctuating demand, limiting scalability and flexibility. They are ill-suited for the complexities of hybrid, multi-orbit networks and real-time provisioning. Non-standard designs often lead to bespoke, vendor-locked solutions with restricted functionality and lack of interoperability.

Shifting to cloud-native ground infrastructure

The future of the satellite industry depends on moving away from static, hardware-dependent models toward software-defined, cloud-native ground systems that are modular, flexible, and intelligent. This modern approach empowers operators with the agility to scale efficiently and dynamically adapt services in response to evolving market demands.

To remain competitive, operators must augment their trusted legacy platforms with cloud-native, standardized solutions to successfully navigate emerging challenges while maximizing the value of their prior investments.

Closing the critical flexibility gap requires not only technical innovation but also new business models tailored to the changing needs operators face from their end users. Designed to meet this challenge, Intuition - our next-generation ground system - bridges this gap and supports the satellite industry’s emerging demands.

Several foundational principles underpin this transformation. A cloud-native architecture decouples network functions from proprietary hardware, enabling faster deployments and driving significant cost savings. This facilitates rapid service rollouts, centralized orchestration and low-latency edge processing, streamlining operations across the board.

Simultaneously, dynamic resource allocation enables real-time capacity adjustments, eliminating the inefficiencies of overprovisioning. Standardized, interoperable deployment models on COTS and cloud infrastructure allow operators to seamlessly integrate and deploy multi-vendor solutions.

Furthermore, standards-based interoperability ensures smooth integration between satellite and terrestrial networks, dismantling traditional silos and promoting unified ecosystems.

The role of AI and ML in satellite networks

AI is fundamentally reshaping satellite networks, creating truly intelligent systems capable of real-time learning and adaptation.

These technologies play a crucial role in enabling networks to anticipate demand and optimize configurations proactively, effectively preventing bottlenecks and outages before they impact service.

Automation streamlines complex operational processes, conserving valuable bandwidth and significantly reducing the reliance on manual labor. Additionally, satellite networks equipped with AI can autonomously detect and resolve issues, minimizing downtime, enhancing overall system reliability and increasing the customer experience.

The integration of AI and ML not only simplifies the management of increasingly complex multi-orbit and hybrid networks but also strengthens network resiliency, ensuring the consistent delivery of mission-critical services, even as the satellite communications landscape grows more dynamic and demanding.

The future of satcom networks

The satellite industry is on the brink of a monumental shift, driven by the integration of cloud-native platforms, AI and advanced automation, which are bringing truly autonomous, intelligent networks to life. Success in this era hinges on adaptability.

Networks that can think, evolve and self-optimize will empower operators to deliver efficient, reliable and scalable services that satisfy surging global connectivity demands. To unlock the full potential of this transformation, operators must modernize both their space-based assets and ground networks simultaneously.

A key pillar of this evolution is the adoption of 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks), which champions standardized, interoperable architectures. This approach enables seamless roaming and mobility across terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, creating cohesive ecosystems without the traditional silos. By supporting such seamless transitions, 5G NTN ensures consistently reliable connectivity for users, anywhere and anytime.

Forward-thinking operators investing today in software-defined, AI-powered platforms, paired with the interoperability of 5G NTN, are building a robust foundation for sustained competitive advantage. Autonomous networks are no longer a distant ambition; they are rapidly becoming the new standard.

Closing the flexibility gap is essential for the satellite sector to remain agile, innovative and competitive in an increasingly connected world. The question is no longer if networks will adapt, but how quickly and effectively they can rise to meet this new reality.