URSYS launches secure Layer 2 Starlink for remote sites

URSYS has launched a Layer 2 secure Starlink service for remote connectivity in Australia, targeting enterprise, Operational Technology and critical infrastructure users.

The service is designed to let organisations extend private corporate networks to remote sites without sending traffic over the public internet. It is aimed at sectors such as mining, utilities, industrial operations and other environments where communications links support essential systems.

At the centre of the offer is a direct private connection from remote Starlink terminals into a customer's core network. URSYS uses private network interconnects to create that path, avoiding the need for conventional internet-facing VPN overlays often used with satellite links.

The architecture is intended to support traffic such as corporate data and SCADA telemetry, which many operators treat as sensitive because it connects to field control and monitoring systems. The design is intended to help customers keep network policies and data separation consistent with the controls used on terrestrial connections.

Remote networks

The launch reflects growing demand for communications in places where fibre and mobile coverage can be limited, expensive or slow to deploy. Low Earth Orbit satellite services have expanded the options for remote sites, but network managers in regulated industries have often sought tighter control over how traffic enters corporate environments.

URSYS said its Layer 2 model is intended to provide that control by keeping customer traffic on a private path rather than exposing it to the public internet. The setup also gives organisations the option to use their own IP assignments across the connection.

Another element of the service is support for QinQ, a form of network segmentation that allows multiple isolated traffic lanes to run over one terminal. In practice, a business could separate corporate IT traffic from Operational Technology systems and contractor access while using a single satellite link at a remote location.

The service also includes built-in quality of service tools so critical traffic can be prioritised during periods of heavy demand. That could be relevant for sites handling voice services, telemetry and other real-time operational data alongside routine office traffic.

Operational focus

For operators of substations, mine sites, depots and temporary recovery centres, reducing added networking layers could also affect deployment. URSYS said removing heavy VPN routing requirements can cut hardware needs and simplify installation in locations where technical support and physical access are limited.

The service will be supported by the company's network operations centre in Sydney, which provides round-the-clock monitoring, capacity management and engineering support. According to URSYS, that support spans the first, middle and last mile of the connection.

The company positions the offer as part of a broader communications portfolio for remote and distributed organisations. Its wider work includes private Low Earth Orbit satellite connectivity, secure Starlink services, private 5G and integrated network services for sectors including government, emergency services, construction and resources.

URSYS also highlighted its ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications in outlining the security and management framework around the new service. Those standards are commonly used by customers assessing information security processes and quality management in suppliers handling critical communications.

Bart Bunting, Managing Director, URSYS, outlined the company's rationale for the launch.

"For over three decades, URSYS has been dedicated to breaking boundaries and engineering bespoke communication networks for Australia's toughest environments," said Bart Bunting, Managing Director, URSYS. "With our recent ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications, delivering a secure, highly private LEO satellite solution is a natural evolution. Our Layer 2 Secure Starlink solution gives critical infrastructure operators, mining enterprises, and regional utilities the high-bandwidth, low-latency benefits of modern space tech without compromising on enterprise security."

The service is available for deployment across remote depots, mine sites, substations and disaster recovery operations nationwide, according to the company.