Success Stories: Satellite Ground Station Development

A leading satellite broadband provider sought a turnkey partner to get more crucial ground stations up and on air fast. The support they found in Network Connex has helped extend their network to provide internet access to locations with limited connectivity options.

SITUATION

In January 2024, a prominent player in satellite technology connected with Network Connex via our website looking for end-to-end telecom infrastructure consulting including engineering, site acquisition, permitting, construction services, and construction management for new ground stations in their low Earth orbit satellite network.

REQUIREMENTS

The project needed a 360 degree approach leveraging all of Network Connex’s expertise in telecom infrastructure development to continue development of a vital backbone for communications and internet access across the United States.

Site Selection and Entitlement: Conducting site surveys to determine the final location for gateway sites, then securing permits and leasing as required to comply with local regulations and industry standards.

Telecom Engineering Services: Site design and engineering to ensure that the maximum number of ground stations can be used for deployment. Creating construction drawings to obtain necessary permits and inform the build.

Civil Construction: Site grading, installing fencing and gravel, and electrical setup to prepare the sites for antenna installation and deployment.

Fast Engagement: Getting up to speed quickly and beginning project work within 30 days of the original partnership inquiry.

Nationwide Execution: From Washington state to Florida, and Maine to California, the customer needed a team who could work across many US locations, including diverse terrains and regulatory environments, and capable of managing as many as 30 active sites simultaneously.

Network Connex civil construction teams complete all the heavy work needed to prepare wireless sites

KEY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

The customer’s requirements were both ambitious and intricate. Unlike traditional cell tower builds, building ground stations requires locating ideal flat surfaces that to place sophisticated antennas capable of tracking satellites from horizon to horizon. Once a proper site is determined, there are multiple steps to getting the station built and equipped for transmissions. While the customer handled installation of their proprietary antenna technology, the Network Connex team ensured that the groundwork—literally and figuratively—was impeccable. Key highlights of our work include:

Flexible Site Identification: The customer’s requirements varied by site, ranging from asking Network Connex to choose from pre-identified build sites, to having us locate ideal sites within broader geographical areas that had already been selected. We leveraged our network consulting expertise to find build sites within designated search rings, prioritizing staying close to critical fiber networks for optimal connectivity.
Turnkey Solutions: The customer valued Network Connex’s ability to deliver turnkey solutions—from entitlement to civil construction—minimizing the need for multiple vendors and ensuring consistency across projects.
Adaptability to Design Changes: Midway through the project, the customer refined their strategy to prioritize locations closer to population centers to reduce latency in data transmission. Our team seamlessly adapted to these changes, revising site plans or redeploying resources as needed.

Expert construction and project management from Network Connex

The customer recognized Network Connex staff for above and beyond engagement and results on the gateway site projects including:

Teaching best practices to the customer’s own specialists
Generating a positive work environment that also encouraged a faster pace and alleviated the boredom of repetitive tasks
Taking on additional steps that helped the project move faster overall
Solving roadblocks in real time
Keeping communications tight between general contractors, data center, and customer teams
Suggesting ideas for continuous improvement on the next site builds

RESULTS

As the satellite internet provider works to expand its commercial network throughout the US, Network Connex was tasked with providing full turnkey services, including engineering, site acquisition, permitting, construction services, and construction management to prepare wireless sites for installation of specialized ground station equipment.

Over the course of the year, Network Connex teams successfully built six complete ground stations from start to finish, and completed various entitlement and construction steps at 30+ additional sites in the US.
Our work not only met the customer’s rigorous standards but also earned their praise for detail-oriented execution and professionalism and cemented Network Connex as one of their Tier 1 telecom infrastructure partners.
Network Connex teams continue to work with the customer to complete new ground stations around the country.

Your Partner in Wireless Site Development

This collaboration is a testament to our expertise in turnkey wireless site preparation and construction with leading innovators in the communications space. Whether you’re building a satellite ground station or other wireless systems, our team is ready to deploy the infrastructure you need to succeed. Contact us today to explore the possibilities.