SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space company joins Google to bring cloud services and connectivity to businesses even in the most remote areas of the planet. The partnership announced yesterday is one that could change the balance of the IT world. The idea of broadcasting internet services via satellites is not new and has never made its way. But the two giants have power to sell and could represent a real alternative to the terrestrial internet.
How does it work
In practice, relying on Google’s data centers, the Starlink satellite network will allow for high speed without going through terrestrial infrastructures. Data, cloud services and applications will be delivered to customers, leveraging Starlink’s ability to deliver high-speed broadband internet worldwide and in the Google Cloud infrastructure. The Alphabet parent company will provide its cloud service and data centers to help SpaceX bring internet services around the world through its Starlink satellites. In turn, Google will be able to provide its customers with SpaceX’s satellite internet service. SpaceX will install ground stations in Google’s data centers that will connect to Starlink satellites, with the aim of providing high-speed internet service in the second half of the year. The deal represents a win for Google, which is looking to gain market share in the cloud against Amazon and Microsoft. “We are proud to be working with Google to provide this access to businesses, public sector organizations and other groups around the world,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, in a statement. For Shotwell, thanks to the partnership with Google, “we will offer organizations around the world a secure and fast connection.” Urs Holzle, vice president of Google Cloud, said that the collaboration will allow organizations to use the network to guarantee “fluid, secure and rapid access”
Loading…
What will change for the market.
Google and Starlink expect to start with the business service from the “second half of 2021”. So very soon. In line with the SpaceX project which in a few months launched 480 satellites to give consistency to its satellite network. In 2015, Google invested $ 900 million in Musk’s space company including the production of Starlink satellites. So the operation is not unprecedented and was somehow expected. Currently Google in the burgeoning cloud business is chasing giants like Microsoft and Amazon that control the enterprise market with a share of only 5%. But in space he won’t play it alone. Amazon through the Kuiper project plans to launch 3,500 satellites. And up there they will no longer be alone.