What seemed like a mixture of science fiction and pure speculation a decade ago is poised to become reality . As launching satellites into orbit becomes cheaper and more available , the potential for low earth orbit ( LEO ) equipment , combined with terrestrial data centres to deliver high-speed , wide-coverage connectivity from space is getting closer to being realised every day . Everyone , from SpaceX and Amazon , to Telesat , Cloud Constellation and OrbitsEdge are racing towards the new connectivity frontier .

Startup Cloud Constellation secures its Series A funding round to build SpaceBelt , an information “ Ultra- Highway ” providing independent space-based network infrastructure for cloud service providers , enterprises and governments . The goal : use a network of satellites to securely store sensitive data in space .

Cloud Constellation is awarded a US patent for its LEO communications platform , founded on the technology ’ s ability to transfer large blocks of data quickly and securely without exposure to any terrestrial communications infrastructure .

SpaceX drives down the prices of launching cargo into space , advertising itself by launching Elon Musk ’ s cherry red Tesla roadster into space . SpaceX quotes haulage costs as low as $ 2,000 / kilo , reducing the theoretical expense of launching a single-rack micro data centre into LEO to around $ 8mn .

16 April 2021