Google Cloud and SpaceX have announced that they have entered a new partnership which will see SpaceX's Starlink begin to locate its satellite ground stations within Google data centers. Together, through the partnership, the two firms will deliver cloud services, data and applications to customers at the "network edge".
This deal follows Google's investment of $900 million in the space company back in 2015, part of which contributed to the manufacturing of Starlink's satellites.
The Starlink network will use Google's private fiber-based network. According to the search giant, the move will enable the secure and low-latency delivery of data from the more than 1,500 Starlink satellites launched into orbit to date. Moreover, the connectivity from these low-Earth-orbit satellites will allow organizations with broad footprints to deliver data and applications to teams distributed across countries and continents seamlessly.
Commenting on the partnership, Urs Hölzle, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure at Google Cloud, said: "We are delighted to partner with SpaceX to ensure that organizations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running."
Meanwhile, SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell added: "Combining Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google's infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect."
This new capability delivered by the combined services is expected to be available from the second half of 2021.
Urs Holzle, SVP of Infrastructure at Google Cloud
Google Cloud and SpaceX’s Starlink to Deliver Secure, Global Connectivity
SpaceX will locate Starlink ground stations within Google data center properties, providing businesses with seamless, secure access to the cloud and Internet with Google Cloud infrastructure Sunnyvale, Calif., May 13, 2021 – Google Cloud and SpaceX today announced a new partnership to deliver data, cloud services, and applications to customers at the network edge, leveraging Starlink’s ability to provide high-speed broadband internet around the world and Google Cloud’s infrastructure.
Under this partnership, SpaceX will begin to locate Starlink ground stations within Google data center properties, enabling the secure, low-latency, and reliable delivery of data from more than 1,500 Starlink satellites launched to orbit to-date to locations at the network edge via Google Cloud. Google Cloud’s high-capacity private network will support the delivery of Starlink’s global satellite internet service, bringing businesses and consumers seamless connectivity to the cloud and Internet, and enabling the delivery of critical enterprise applications to virtually any location.
Organizations with broad footprints, like public sector agencies, businesses with presences at the network edge, or those operating in rural or remote areas, often require access to applications running in the cloud, or to cloud services like analytics, artificial intelligence, or machine learning. Connectivity from Starlink’s constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites provides a path for these organizations to deliver data and applications to teams distributed across countries and continents, quickly and securely.
“Applications and services running in the cloud can be transformative for organizations, whether they’re operating in a highly networked or remote environment,” said Urs Hölzle, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure at Google Cloud. “We are delighted to partner with SpaceX to ensure that organizations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running.”
“Combining Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google’s infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect,” said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell. “We are proud to work with Google to deliver this access to businesses, public sector organizations, and many other groups operating around the world.”
This new capability, delivered by Google Cloud and Starlink to enterprise customers, is expected to be available in the second half of 2021.
