Someone once described drilling for oil as standing on a 6-foot ladder, holding a fishing line with a needle attached to the end, and trying to drill through a 2-by-4 piece of wood. Given this challenge that drilling companies face, there is no doubt that any technology that can make this process more efficient would be welcomed. That is where satellite comes into the equation.

Using satellite technology, oil rig crews today are drilling where it counts, eliminating the shot-in-the-dark approach that used to be the norm. Implementing satellite technology has helped operations run more efficiently. Less time is wasted in searching for the right area in which to drill, as satellite imagery can help pinpoint potential sites, leaving more time for revenue-generating activities.

In no other instance is that more prevalent than in a real-time drilling scenario. Information that used to take days to deliver can now be relayed in minutes. In an effort to make sure no time or money is wasted, executives and customers can remotely monitor drilling activities, project progress, performance and geological readings. Workers and customers also can access real-time information such as the status of automated procedures and monitor the progress of the exploration via satellite-enabled technology.

This fusion between business and technology has helped many utilities maintain a strong business and increase revenue streams. Through a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system, users are offered voice, data and video communication to remote offices around the globe and turnkey solutions for design, project management and deployment of operations as well as exploration operations.

Being able to communicate with full local area network capabilities and protocols to offices, regardless of location, is what satellite networks provide. VSAT technologies ensure link security and reliability with genuine end-to-end management and comprehensive customer support systems.

Depending on your communications requirements and the complexity of a network, the benefits of such systems continue to prove most beneficial for long-term business growth. With satellite, executives are able to establish a cost-efficient, high performance network, optimized on the basis of cost, performance and flexibility; genuine end-to-end managed services; custom engineered solutions to meet a diverse array of needs; and truly global coverage with seamless integration to terrestrial networks.

So begin to view space-based technology as a real-world benefit — a benefit for business operations and a benefit for business growth.