AST “modular architecture” satcoms combines LEO, GEO and cellular

AST Networks, satellite and remote connectivity specialists, have announced the launch of MODULA, a flexible and fully scalable modular approach to hybrid connectivity, designed to give maritime, offshore, and remote land-based customers the ability to tailor their connectivity to current requirements, with the flexibility to scale as demands grow.

MODULA is AST’s next-generation connectivity concept, built on a modular architecture which mixes and matches the best of LEO, GEO, and Cellular communication networks into a single, fully managed service. Rather than forcing customers into rigid service tiers or predefined plans, MODULA allows customers to assemble their own blend of connectivity, starting with essential services - such as basic comms or backup - and building up to high-speed broadband, global redundancy, safety services or low-latency capabilities as their operational demands evolve.

“We understand that connectivity requirements are not static, they expand, move and change as operations scale,” said Gregory Darling, Chairman and Founder of AST Networks. “MODULA gives our customers the tools to build their own communications system rather than taking whatever a provider is ready to sell. You start with only what you need today, and you grow – block-by-block – into the solution you need tomorrow. It’s resilient, future-proof, and entirely centred around the operation rather than the technology.”

A True ‘Build-Your-Own’ Connectivity Platform

Available network building blocks include:

• LEO – Global, high-speed, low-latency links

• GEO – reliable coverage and resilience

• Backup – robust, resilient voice/data for when other networks fail

• Safety – certified GMDSS and safety compliance for crews or lone workers

• Cellular – connectivity for nearshore or land-based deployments

• AST LinkBox – smart routing, traffic management and failover, with a lifetime guarantee

• MyAST Portal – central dashboard for visibility, monitoring, and control

By combining different ‘blocks’, each MODULA customer decides what their network looks like – from a simple safety backup to a powerful multi-orbit, multi-bearer hybrid, bringing the performance of LEO alongside the global reliability of GEO and terrestrial cellular in a truly seamless setup.

Real Operational Benefits from Going Hybrid

Hybrid connectivity has become essential for organisations operating in remote and harsh environments. MODULA enables customers to:

• Eliminate single points of failure with automatic failover between LEO, GEO,

and cellular

• Prevent cost overruns with unlimited backup options and data management tools, protecting against costly LEO overage bills

• Reuse existing hardware, including VSAT and L-band antennas, reactivating dormant equipment to reduce CAPEX

• Scale over time, upgrade connectivity without hardware swaps or supplier changes