Every satellite needs ground stations to receive its data and to be commanded. Building a global network of antennas is expensive, so many operators rent antenna time instead. This model is called ground station as a service, or GSaaS, sometimes also ground segment as a service.
What ground station as a service means
Instead of owning antennas, the operator books contacts with a provider's existing ground stations. The provider operates the antennas and delivers the satellite data to the customer. AWS describes its AWS Ground Station as a fully managed service that lets customers control satellite communications, process satellite data and scale their operations without having to build or manage their own ground station infrastructure.
Examples of providers
- AWS Ground Station: a fully managed service that links satellite contacts with cloud data processing, according to AWS.
- SSC (Swedish Space Corporation): manages a network of 10 ground stations worldwide, complemented by 11 partner stations, according to SSC.
- KSAT (Kongsberg Satellite Services): a provider of ground station services.
Why operators use GSaaS
- No investment in antennas, buildings or staff at remote sites.
- Access to many locations, which increases the number of contacts per day.
- Capacity can grow with the size of a constellation.
What to check before booking
- Frequency bands: the provider's antennas must support the satellite's bands, for example S-band or X-band. See our article on satellite frequency bands.
- Licences: ground stations need licences for the frequencies used, which must match the satellite's filings.
- Locations: polar and sun-synchronous satellites benefit from stations at high latitudes.
- Data delivery: how quickly and in what format the data reaches the operator.
Frequently asked questions
What is ground station as a service?
A model in which satellite operators rent antenna time on a provider’s ground stations instead of building their own network.
Which companies offer ground station as a service?
Examples include AWS Ground Station, SSC and KSAT. SSC states that it manages 10 ground stations worldwide plus 11 partner stations.
Related reading
Sources
Cover image: The 70 metre DSS43 antenna at the Deep Space Network’s Canberra complex in Australia. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech (PIA23682), public domain.