Net Neutrality Rules Changes Could Benefit Satcom, NSR Analyst Says

Satellite communications could take advantage of relaxed net neutrality rules to target end-users seeking ISP alternatives, Northern Sky Research's Lluc Palerm-Serra said in an NSR blog post. NSR said one potential of 5G is the range of applications that will come through network segmentation, but first there needs to be some revision of net neutrality rules because different use cases that need to coexist on the same networks -- like IoT, connected cars and first responder communications -- often have different priority requirements. Smarter networks will benefit satcom, which "can’t compete on brute force (capacity and pricing) against ground networks," NSR said, saying relaxing rules on cellular backhaul could particularly benefit satcom. It said any net neutrality deregulation that leads to increased efforts to boost ISP competition as a means of safeguarding end-users from unfair data management policies also could benefit satcom.