Hughes

Say “rural business,” and most people think of a far-flung farm or mom-and-pop shop. The reality is, however, that businesses in rural counties make up over $2 trillion in GDP for the US economy, and, surprisingly, nearly 1-in-5 US employers across all industries are rural. Vital to the economy, those businesses face a competitive disadvantage compared to their urban peers in the form of the digital divide. This lack of access to high-speed internet prevents many of these enterprises from taking advantage of the improved efficiencies that come with cloud access and automation. In fact, a recent study from Penn State University reveals that the dearth of access to high-speed internet precludes rural companies from migrating operations to the cloud, thus hindering innovation – in addition to limiting potential cost savings and revenue opportunities.

A new category of satellite connectivity promises to change this paradigm. Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are launching almost weekly, creating space-based broadband networks that, when delivered as a managed service, make a compelling and cost-effective solution for rural enterprise connectivity. Orbiting anywhere from about 1000 miles to just 250 miles above the surface of the Earth, these satellites can deliver services at high speeds in places where fiber and cable don’t reach. With the low latency of LEO connectivity, businesses can comfortably use real-time collaboration and communication tools, such as video conferencing, remote desktop and cloud applications. LEO satellites could very well be the rural business’ key to unlocking the digital future.

LEO broadband offers rural businesses access to all of today’s technological innovations, and a managed services provider can ensure that those technologies can operate without interruption, every day.

The rural need for high-speed internet
When we hear about the “digital divide,” it’s typically in the context of connecting people at their homes to the internet. Less talked about is the impact of the “broadband gap” on rural enterprises. Make no mistake, though: without access to high-speed internet, rural and remote businesses cannot make basic use of the internet, much less employ technologies like cloud applications, automation or Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

From the mundane to the cutting-edge, today’s business applications and tools depend on connectivity. Consider a computer repair shop that relies on Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) for technicians and customers to access their desktops and applications remotely. Unreliable and slow connections make it difficult for the shop to deliver the services its customers expect – a low latency connection is crucial for real-time responsiveness and rapid interactions.

Or think of a doctor’s office. Not only does it need reliable connectivity to send prescriptions and exchange private patient data with health insurance companies, the doctors also often have to engage with patients via telemedicine appointments that require low latency to ensure timely and accurate data transmission for critical patient care.

Connectivity is increasingly critical for every type of rural business. Even modern agriculture companies – whether farms or food processors or breeders – rely heavily on technology. Connected sensors, cameras and robots – all dependent on the cloud and the internet – help farmers more easily monitor crops and livestock, produce higher yields, and develop sustainable practices.

Technology platforms can make rural stores or factories safer and more efficient, as well as improve the customer experience, but they require inexpensive, secure, and robust internet service to perform. This is why LEO satellite broadband is such a boon to the rural market, realizing new opportunities for remote enterprises and bringing them the same benefits their urban counterparts already have.

The added value of an MSP
Connectivity alone, however, is not enough to bring rural businesses all the benefits of broadband. Like any type of service, internet access is available from a variety of vendors and across a range of offerings – from a consumer “best effort” to a managed service – and at a range of price points.

For a home-based rural entrepreneur, a consumer grade LEO service may be just what the business needs for email, basic internet access, video conferencing and voice services. For any business beyond home-based, however, a managed LEO service is well worth the slight premium in price. In fact, a managed service can pay for itself in averted downtime, network security peace of mind, and help desk support that could otherwise rack up expenses due to lost productivity, troubleshooting issues, and missing business.

Business owners and managers have enough to think about without worrying about losing connectivity for critical operations. With guaranteed service level agreements, 24x7 monitoring and help desk support, a managed LEO service enables them to focus instead on how they can use cutting-edge smart technology to improve their business.

With more enterprises discovering the advantages of “smart” technology every day, the need for high-speed internet will only increase. LEO broadband offers rural businesses access to all of today’s technological innovations, and a managed services provider can ensure that those technologies can operate without interruption, every day.