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    HomeSatelliteClosing the digital divide while fostering economic growth

    Closing the digital divide while fostering economic growth

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    Partner content: Internet access, that basic service which connects the world, is still unavailable to around 30% of the global population

    We live in an unequal world. 2.7 billion people still don’t have internet access. This means that a basic service which connects the world is still unavailable to around 30% of the global population.

    The digital divide not only slows down education and blocks innovation, but it also causes major economic losses. The World Bank estimates that universal internet access could increase global GDP by $2 trillion every year.

    It also affects how we respond to natural disasters, which rely on strong communication networks. In 2023, natural disasters caused over $313 billion of damage globally, and communication breakdowns made things worse. Terrestrial networks often fail during disasters, cutting off affected areas. Satellite communication (SATCOM) can solve this by providing coverage where traditional networks can’t, ensuring emergency responders stay connected in a crisis.

    We need to close the digital divide to give everyone access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, which helps communities grow. At the same time, this isn’t just about helping others, that should be more than enough to do this, it’s also about driving global society improvement. By bridging this gap and helping others, we are also helping everyone since all countries can develop faster and contribute to new products/services/inventions that benefit us all.

    How Celfocus is trying to help?

    The SATCOM + 5G Anywhere – Phase II Catalyst (C24.0.683), is a collaborative initiative involving Celfocus, Airbus, alvatross, amartus, Bell, BT, OneWeb, Oracle, SES, Telesat and others, that brings a futuristic approach to address this connectivity challenges. This award-winning project, recognised at DTW24 – Ignite, received two awards for being Innovative & Futuristic and for demonstrating Tech for Good, by showing how it is possible to operationalise SATCOM and 5G technologies for seamless communication, particularly in disaster-stricken zones and underserved areas.

    At the heart of this solution is an Automated Marketplace-driven Intent-Order-Activate process, powered by multi-domain orchestration across SATCOM and 5G networks. This approach addresses one of the biggest challenges in such solutions: integrating customer-facing portals, OSS/BSS systems, and network management for smooth service orchestration. Thus, the main technological challenges were:

    • Instant 5G Deployment: How to rapid setup a 5G mobile private networks to address emergency communication needs?
    • Unified Service Activation: How can we automate the activation of SATCOM and 5G services, ensuring reliable and bespoke connectivity with just an intent from a user?
    • Resilient Architecture: How to make an architecture that can handle demands so heterogeneous?

    Celfocus and Sylva: Seamless 5G Fulfilment and Operations

    Celfocus plays a pivotal role in this Catalyst by enabling instant 5G Core deployments through its Orchestrator and deploying the 5G core on top of the Linux Foundation Europe, project Sylva. The orchestration ensures that complex 5G orders are executed seamlessly, from product offer qualification to service activation. By integrating SATCOM and 5G, Celfocus eliminates traditional bottlenecks, reducing deployment times by 90% and providing end-to-end automation.

    For example, during a natural disaster, relief agencies can use the system to deploy a 5G private network within hours. This network ensures uninterrupted communication for emergency responders, empowering them to save lives and coordinate resources effectively.

    But also, this makes it possible the business case for remote areas to have internet access and provide tailored connectivity to different needs (healthcare, education, web browsing, etc.).

    However, there was also a major effort from the rest of the participants to achieve the unified service activation from user intent to technical deployment, but what made this success was not only this multiple integration, possible by teamwork, but also a resilient architecture employing TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA), the project leverages standards like TMF622, TMF641, and TMF640 to streamline service delivery and ensure interoperability.

    What can we see next?

    Beyond its humanitarian applications, the Catalyst opens up significant commercial opportunities. Industries such as agriculture, logistics, and energy can utilise the Private 5G Bubble, combining SATCOM and 5G connectivity to enable precision operations in remote areas. The system also supports Distribution Partners and Communication Service Providers (CSPs) by simplifying the delivery of satellite and 5G services through a unified platform.

    SATCOM and 5G are critical enablers of this vision, offering solutions for remote regions, disaster scenarios, and high-demand industries. For telecommunications companies, this represents an opportunity to expand their customer base, diversify services, and contribute to global economic development.

    Conclusion: Building the Future of Connectivity

    The combination of SATCOM and 5G is more than a technological advancement—it is a transformative force for society. From saving lives during disasters to unlocking new business opportunities, this partnership promises to connect the unconnected and drive significant economic growth.

    By leveraging cutting-edge orchestration and TM Forum standards, Celfocus ensures that the SATCOM + 5G Catalyst delivers on its promise. Recognised as both futuristic and socially impactful, this project showcases how technology can build a more connected and prosperous future for all.

    About the author

    André Vieira is the Operational Intelligence Offer Lead at Celfocus. He started his career providing consulting and engineering services in telecommunications, developing and leading several projects focused on Telcos across Europe, Africa, and Asia. In 2021, he joined Celfocus to manage the Celfocus Order Management Product.

    He refined product offerings and managed customer relationships and partnerships. He is now leading the offer of a Business Unit – Operational Intelligence – that combines technologies and professional services that speed up the delivery of the foundations of digital transformation while leveraging the Telecom Operator ecosystem. Since February 2023, he has also been the leader of the communication and adoption working group for Project Sylva, a Linux Foundation Europe project.

    Contact: andre.antunes.vieira@celfocus.com