Summary: Microsoft signed up three satellite operators (Intelsat, SES and Viasat) as Azure ExpressRoute partners. They will be able to deliver private connectivity to Azure to locations where terrestrial networking is limited or impractical. Luxembourg-based SES, which claims to be the world’s largest satellite operator with over 70 satellites in two different orbits, said it will aim to provide dedicated private network connectivity from any vessel, airplane, enterprise, energy or government site in the world to Azure. It is also using Azure’s cloud and AI technology to power a new managed broadcast video service for media delivery. Satellite broadband ISP Viasat will launch its new Viasat Direct Cloud Connect service later this year, with Azure ExpressRoute the first cloud offering in the programme. It will initially be available in the US, with the expectation that it will be expanded globally. Satellite is starting to emerge as another connectivity and data storage piece (but non-terrestrial) that will be factored into future architectures. The edge apparently is headed literally to the clouds. AWS and Azure are already actively working on this.
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