MetTel and Starlink partner to bring business networking everywhere

Businesses run on the Internet, but enterprises that take security seriously use software-defined wide area networks (SD-WANs) to create virtual private connections. This approach enables them to use their internal network services over the Internet without anyone looking over their virtual shoulders. Now, MetTel, the managed network service, is working with Starlink to deliver its SD-WAN services to government and commercial enterprises globally. 

This strategic partnership allows MetTel to offer fully managed network services to any location worldwide. It does this by leveraging Starlink’s laser mesh network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Starlink’s low-latency network, typically around 25 milliseconds, provides speeds exceeding 100 Mbps for most users.

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That may not sound impressive if, like me, you have a fiber network to your home or office with Gigabit plus speeds. Not everyone is so lucky. In particular, if you have a business with offices from New York to New Zealand to Old Harbour, Jamaica, MetTel’s SD-WAN over Starlink may be just what the CEO ordered.  

This combo isn’t just for offices. Starlink’s Flat High-Performance service enables customers to stay connected to the company even if they’re working from Land Rover or from 25,000 feet in their Embraer Phenom 300 business jet.

The MetTel SD-WAN isn’t just a Starlink add-on. The service also integrates Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), high-speed Internet circuits, 4G-LTE, 5G, and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) to create a robust network infrastructure. In other words, you only use the Starlink connections where and when you need them.

MetTel’s SD-WAN technology itself offers integrated WAN security over your entire network. It does this with Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance, standard 256-bit encryption, and direct connection to MetTel Cloud Managed Firewall services.

Another useful SD-WAN feature is its instant on-ramp for fast, private connections to more than 60 popular software-as-a-service and infrastructure-as-a-service cloud providers, including  AWS, Azure, and Salesforce.

In a statement, MetTel CTO Ed Fox said, “We are seeing a wide range of business and government use cases that call for the secure, high-speed performance of MetTel SD-WAN and the anywhere, anytime access afforded by Starlink.” 

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One such use case is fintech. “This is a big deal for us,” said John Pieratt, business unit executive for Fidelity Information Services (FIS). “It adds another option for connectivity we use to build into our designs. The satellite service allows for low latency, performs very well, and provides another level of diversity — wired/wireless versus the wired/wired diversity you would get from other traditional connectivity options.”

So, if your business needs a fast, secure network that is literally globe-spanning, this pairing of MetTel and Starlink demands your attention.