Download NATO Plans Could Increase the Use of Space Internet Traffic Even Further 

NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Consisting of 32 member states, a major media outlet has reported that it plans to develop facilities for use of emergency satellite internet. In the article below we discuss the plans and what this type of internet is.

In a recent report from Bloomberg, NATO has discussed and begun researching a plan to use satellite internet, also known as space internet, should underwater communications cables be cut. This can happen through a natural disaster or a man-made intervention. Researchers from the US, Switzerland, Sweden and Iceland plan to reroute the internet from cables to satellites when these events occur to prevent blackouts.

What is Satellite Internet Traffic?

So far, 400,000 euros have been given to the fund by NATO, and the rest of the project costs will come from research institutions. It is estimated that these cables handle $10 trillion in daily financial transactions, along with a host of other communications that keep the world moving. They must be kept open at all costs, and this is a way to ensure their operation.

Satellite Internet technology involves the transmission and reception of the Internet using a small dish on Earth and a satellite placed in orbit. These satellites hang 22,300 miles above the Earth. The court acts as an intermediary between a network operations center on Earth. Data goes from the dish to the satellite, to the NOC and back again.

For the user, this does not make much difference from a normal internet connection. However, it allows people and places to connect to the Internet that do not have the traditional infrastructure available in developed areas. People in areas where cables are not available and there are cell towers can enjoy the internet using this system.

The real battle for Internet traffic

Despite forward-thinking approaches to keeping the Internet up and running, NATO may have to handle battles within the network itself. Recent studies have found that global internet traffic is being flooded by an invasion of bots. These figures ranged from 36% in some studies to nearly 50% in others. The latter also stated that around 32% of these are malicious bots, meaning those designed to disrupt, cause harm and engage in criminal activity.

Therefore, the internet needs to start cleaning up. For business owners, securing their networks using terrestrial or satellite internet is critical. There are many tools to help with this, from firewalls to intrusion protection and detection systems. Although it takes time to develop a network security strategy, it is important because of constantly emerging threats and technologies like those mentioned.

Malicious bots are generally designed for cyber attacks, either through malware, phishing scams, denial of service attacks or other malicious schemes. As these increase, they not only make the internet more insecure, they also make it less attractive to consumers. These malicious bots are becoming more sophisticated, allowing them to spoof videos and replicate voice patterns. This is a field that NATO should turn its attention to if it wants to secure global financial transactions carried out over the Internet.

Current room internet providers

Internet traffic is more than just sending emails, loading web pages and the data required to check social media. It has now become part of the fabric of our personal and business lives, transferring information about taxes, finances and storing personal data. The largest provider of space internet is Space X with their Starlink project. However, a number of companies, including ViaSat, EchoStar, Amazon-owned Project Kuiper and Chinasat, among others, are developing facilities for this. It is unknown whether any of them will be involved in the NATO project and its research for now.

When it comes to satellites above the Earth, Starlink has the most with 6,290. The closest competitor is ViaSat, which has four satellites in orbit. However, there is a fatal flaw with space internet that few of these companies mention. To receive reception, the user must have a clear view of the sky. If you have a cloudy day, your link will not work. To be a truly successful project, this is something NATO must work to fix.

Space-based internet traffic provides a viable alternative to cable-based communication. It also allows a way for people who may have previously had trouble connecting to do so, increasing internet usage. However, if the traffic on Earth cannot be improved and the removal of malicious bots is a priority, then that traffic may not be worth anything at all.

As a user, all you can do is secure your own networks. Set up robust defenses, back up your systems, and protect yourself from malicious bots and cyber attacks. This should be done on a personal and business level. By increasing your own defenses, you protect the information of yourself and your customers until the growing threat of cybercrime has a unified response.