Mercantile Space, a communications technology company, has partnered with Rivada Space Networks to provide a next-generation connectivity network with the necessary security and performance to drive digital innovation and transformation. Rivada has now lined up over $US20 billions of business globally for its LEO network.
Mercantile Space, alongside its parent company Mercantile Communications, has been a telecommunications provider in Nepal specializing in satellite solutions and wireless network systems. The company has provided IT solutions, from cybersecurity and cloud services to managed IT and data center management, intended to support operational efficiency, security, and business growth. With the increasing demand to move large quantities of data securely and quickly around the world, placing existing digital infrastructure under greater pressure than ever, organizations in banking, security, defense and telecommunications have been seeking networking technologies that are secure, fast and reliable.
As the company-described unified global communications network, Rivada's Outernet has been presented as a global communications network. A global low-latency point-to-point network of 600 low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, it has been a constellation combining inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing and routing to create a ubiquitous optical mesh network in space. This "orbital network," in which data stays in space from origin to destination, has created a satellite network with pole-to-pole coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over long distances. And by routing traffic on a physically separated network in space, it has provided an additional layer of network separation for any organization that needs to share data securely between widely distributed sites.
Mercantile Space has planned to use Rivada's Outernet to address critical infrastructure limitations in the region and provide resiliency for secure, sovereign data connectivity for enterprise and government networks. Nepal's rugged terrain presents severe geographic obstacles for traditional fiber or cable deployments. By leveraging the Outernet's satellite architecture, Mercantile has sought to bridge these connectivity gaps in remote or underserved areas. The Outernet's s communications connectivity has been intended to support network performance and enable digital transformation and new business opportunities through multi-gigabit bi-directional performance, combined with worldwide reach.
Amod Pratap Rana, Director of Telecom Services at Mercantile Space, said: "Our goal is to ensure our customers have sovereign data connectivity, carrier Ethernet resilience and a ubiquitous network which bridges connectivity gaps." He added: "Rivada is building a uniquely capable LEO architecture, in effect a highly secure global communications backbone in space. The Outernet not only strengthens digital infrastructure on a global scale, but it also provides an innovative platform for our customers to expand their capabilities to meet new security needs."
Declan Ganley, CEO, Rivada Space Networks, said: "We are delighted to be working with Mercantile Space to enhance their portfolio of communications services. The space domain now plays a critical role in securing network infrastructure and addressing rising data sovereignty and security demands. Unlike traditional "gap-filler" LEO systems which bridge the last mile between the satellite and the nearest terrestrial gateway, Rivada's game-changing Outernet is a fully independent and inter-connected private space network that redefines connectivity in terms of security, latency, capacity, efficiency, and coverage. Our unique gateway-less architecture is fast becoming the system of choice for secure data communications."
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