Kratos Partners with XipLink

Deploys Satellite Network Acceleration as Software on the OpenSpace Platform

March 6, 2023

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. is partnering with XipLink, Inc. to enable its market leading network acceleration product, XipOS, as an orchestrated, cloud-native software module running on Kratos’ OpenSpace dynamic satellite ground platform. Widely used across the communications industry, XipOS enhances the user experience by dramatically improving link utilization and network efficiency while reducing latency effects, improving response time by 30% or more.

In terrestrial and wireless networks, XipOS is typically deployed as software, maximizing flexibility, scalability and responsiveness while also reducing CAPEX costs. In satellite networks, however, XipOS has traditionally been installed as separate, dedicated hardware. That is because satcom networks are still trapped in purpose-built, hardware-based architectures, rather than the modern, software-defined networks common in the rest of the communications industry. Kratos’ OpenSpace Platform changes all that.

OpenSpace is the first and only generally available software-based ground system for satellite communications and other space networks. Fully virtualized and orchestrated, the OpenSpace Platform enables satellite network operators to achieve their digital transformation goals and mainstream their services with the rest of the global communications industry. As an end-to-end software-based system, OpenSpace frees satellite network operators from the cumbersome limitations of purpose-built hardware, enabling them to incorporate value-added applications and respond in minutes to customer needs, multi-mission requirements and changing conditions.

The partnership with XipLink is a case in point. OpenSpace Platform users will now benefit from orchestrating XipOS immediately, on demand as a fully integrated component of their end-to-end satellite network, from the gateway all the way to the terminal at the network’s far edge.

“Satellite terminals have historically been built on dedicated, proprietary hardware devices. As a result, companies like XipLink were forced to require additional hardware to deploy their applications, often at both the gateway and remote locations,” said Kevin Tobias, Director of Edge Product Management Solutions at Kratos. With OpenSpace and Kratos’ recently introduced OpenEdgeTM software-enabled satellite terminals, operators can greatly improve their time to revenue while dramatically reducing cost and complexity.”

Deployed as cloud native software, OpenSpace Platform users will get optimal benefit from XipOS features, including:

• dramatic increase in link utilization, from 50-70% to 95% or more for connections exceeding 50 milliseconds,

• 30% or better response time for all connections, even at low latencies,

• session persistence that keeps connections alive longer, even in the event of minor outages or link changes and

• full-service orchestration across the OpenSpace Platform.

“OpenSpace allows satellite operators to take XipOS out of dedicated hardware and deploy it to full advantage in a software-defined satellite communications network,” said XipLink CEO, Jack Waters, “As a result, cloud-native XipOS will provide the absolute best end user experience over satcom while maximizing revenue for today’s satellite service providers and the dynamic, hybrid networks of the future.