When SpaceX introduced Starlink, it was groundbreaking technology, but there were few local use cases to back up the effectiveness of the solution.
FletcherTech, Fletcher Building’s technology division, teamed up with 2degrees Business to tackle significant connectivity challenges faced in remote locations across New Zealand and Australia.
“Being relatively straightforward and cost-effective to trial, soon after Starlink was first available, we ordered several and put them into sites where networks were not reliable,” says Grant Ivory, GM Technology Operations and Service for FletcherTech.
FletcherTech was impressed with initial results. The Starlink service far surpassed 4G’s ability to carry business-critical network traffic when lines went down. “Providing all Fletcher Building businesses reliable and consistent coverage is imperative to FletcherTech,” explains Grant. “For this reason, we generally put fibre into our sites with mobile network serving as a failover. But fibre install lead times can take months to a new greenfield site or may not even be available, and 4G is not always available in very remote sites either.”
After canvassing in-region network providers, FletcherTech engaged 2degrees to assist with governance, and 2degrees assisted in managing deployment, maintenance, and support for the growing fleet of Starlink devices. Starlink equipment is now an integral component of Fletcher Building mobile site offices for roading and other projects. It is a rapidly deployable solution for network redundancy and surpasses the capability of most other available mobile networks.
WHY CHOOSE 2DEGREES STARLINK FOR BUSINESS
Flexibility and Responsiveness
With around seven hundred sites, some of which are temporary or mobile sites or geographically challenging, the ability to quickly deploy high-speed, low-latency connectivity is invaluable. FletcherTech uses Starlink for its enterprise systems as well as communications and collaboration. When sites are connected, people can work productively and effectively.
Connectivity Performance
Starlink offers download speeds and latency needed for business-critical applications, and uplink speeds that can carry video communications and enterprise application traffic to keep business running smoothly.
Adaptable Business Cases
Establishing immediate connectivity is an obvious business case for FletcherTech. When Cyclone Gabrielle took out sites across New Zealand’s East Coast, the 2degrees Starlink service reestablished communications overnight. FletcherTech uses Starlink in greenfield residential sites under development. Site connectivity is established in days, faster than the extension of domestic fibre networks. A further business case is the deployment of Starlink as an integral component of mobile roading site offices.
Governance and Support
Procuring Starlink directly from SpaceX is incompatible with governance policies and can lead to ‘shadow IT’ outside the control of the central IT function. Procured via 2degrees, enterprise contracts and associated financial arrangements (in this case, lease) and Service Level Agreements make Starlink for Business a suitably governed and managed solution for FletcherTech.
Affordability
Where a fibre link might cost anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars to deploy, a 2degrees Starlink for Business connection is a few hundred. With leasing options, FletcherTech can deploy Starlink to many sites across New Zealand and Australia cost-effectively. Not only is connectivity to the individual sites highly cost-effective, but their value multiplies as the equipment is mobile and can power temporary sites or rapidly establish emergency connectivity when and where required.
Results
“If our sites don’t have connectivity, systems stop working – and that can cost thousands daily,” says Grant. “Sites without good internet are now a thing of the past. Starlink is dependable, cost-effective, flexible, and backed by 2degrees. It has all the governance and security you would expect from a corporate connectivity solution.”
“Starlink affords a huge advantage for business continuity and disaster recovery. Working with 2degrees has been a great experience driven by a can-do attitude.”