AWS Ground Station expands to Alaska, enhancing global satellite network

AWS Ground Station expands to Alaska, enhancing global satellite network
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 28, 2023

Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leader in cloud computing and a subsidiary of Amazon, has announced an expansion of its AWS Ground Station service. The company has launched its 12th antenna location in the US West (Alaska) region, marking a notable extension of its global network. This development is set to offer satellite operators, governments, businesses, and universities enhanced opportunities to connect with their satellites and process space workloads more efficiently.

AWS Ground Station is a fully managed service that streamlines satellite communications and data processing. This service eliminates the need for customers to invest in their own ground station infrastructure, providing a cost-effective solution for controlling satellite communications, processing satellite data, and scaling satellite operations. With the AWS Ground Station, users pay only for the antenna time they use, which is a significant advantage for varying satellite operation needs.

The incorporation of Alaska into the AWS Ground Station network is more than just an expansion of geographical coverage. Alaska's strategic location is particularly advantageous for managing polar orbiting satellites, which are crucial for a range of applications including environmental monitoring, meteorology, and global communications. The ability to access more timely satellite data enables users to make informed, data-driven decisions across a spectrum of industries and research fields.

AWS Ground Station antennas are now available in multiple locations worldwide, including North America (Hawaii, Ohio, Oregon, Alaska), the Middle East (Bahrain), Europe (Ireland, Stockholm), Asia Pacific (Seoul, Singapore, Dubbo), Africa (Cape Town), and South America (Punta Arenas). This extensive network ensures that AWS customers can maintain robust and flexible satellite communication capabilities across the globe.

Customers of AWS Ground Station can send satellite commands and receive data using the service's antennas, configuring their contacts through the AWS Ground Station console. This flexibility is further enhanced by the availability of data delivery in various AWS regions, including US West (Oregon), US East (Ohio, N. Virginia), Middle East (Bahrain), Europe (Stockholm, Ireland, Frankfurt), Asia Pacific (Dubbo, Seoul, Singapore), Africa (Cape Town), and South America (Sao Paulo).

In addition to real-time data processing with Amazon Elastic Cloud Compute (Amazon EC2), AWS Ground Station also allows direct data storage in Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3). This feature, combined with included cross-region data delivery, presents a comprehensive solution for satellite data handling, offering both immediate processing and long-term storage options.

The launch of the AWS Ground Station in Alaska is a testament to AWS's commitment to providing advanced and accessible satellite communication services. As the demand for such services continues to grow, AWS Ground Station is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of a diverse range of users, from government agencies to private enterprises and academic institutions.

This expansion into Alaska underscores the increasing importance of cloud-based satellite data services and represents a significant step forward in AWS's efforts to enhance global satellite communication capabilities. With this new location, AWS continues to solidify its position as a leading provider of innovative cloud solutions for satellite data management and processing.