Reliable Connectivity for Construction
Construction today is far more digital than it used to be. Project teams rely on cloud-based document libraries, real-time dashboards and reporting tools, high-resolution designs and drone surveys, CCTV video streams, and IoT sensors – not paper logs or walkie-talkies. All of this modern work depends on continuous internet connectivity, but many sites remain in areas where traditional networks are weak or slow. Fixed broadband may take weeks to install, and cellular 4G/5G signals often fade out at remote sites. These delays and dropouts disrupt digital workflows and slow projects.
Construction firms now have a new option: SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet. Starlink’s constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites delivers high-speed, low-latency broadband everywhere there’s sky visibility. That means a Starlink terminal can be set up on day one of a build and immediately provide reliable internet. With Digital Carbon’s Co-Managed Service, we handle the entire deployment – from selecting the Starlink hardware and planning the site install, to configuring the connection and monitoring performance – so your team can focus on construction, not connectivity. For example, one deployment partner reported they can have a Starlink SD-WAN link “up and running in a single day”, instead of waiting weeks for trenching or towers. This predictable startup removes the usual uncertainty; as soon as power is on, crews can log into BIM models, set up online workflows, and begin work without a connectivity bottleneck.
Predictable Connectivity from Day One
Waiting for wired internet is a constant headache. By contrast, Starlink provides immediate, predictable connectivity that’s independent of local infrastructure. A Starlink dish connects directly to satellites overhead, bypassing the need for fixed lines or even mobile towers. Digital Carbon’s engineers site the terminal for best reception, integrate it with our SD-WAN network, and test it before the team arrives. This means that routine tasks – creating online project folders, syncing plans, or launching remote-control inspections – can happen on day one, rather than weeks in. Early project phases like setting up cloud document management or logging site activities become seamless. In practice, we treat the Starlink feed as just another high-speed link in your network, with the reliability to support real-time data flows from the start.
Digital Carbon’s Co-Managed Connectivity service takes care of everything:
Design & Planning: We engineer the network layout and choose the right Starlink kit.
Configuration & Deployment: We pre-configure SD-WAN settings and install hardware on-site.
Upgrades & Tuning: We handle firmware/OS updates and optimize performance over time.
Training: We train your IT staff or site teams (online or on-prem) to use the system.
Support Desk: Our 24/7 helpdesk provides first- and second-line support.
Field Engineers: Certified engineers perform on-site installs and maintenance.
Local Hardware Stock: We keep Starlink terminals and antennas in stock (UK & EU) for rapid delivery.
These services let you offload the technical work: Digital Carbon becomes an extension of your team. We partner closely with your IT staff to remove blockers and solve issues quickly, building the network to match how you actually work. In short, we don’t just sell you a box – we co-manage it. The result is a connectivity solution aligned with your goals, deployed faster and maintained continuously, so you can be confident your teams are always online.
Connectivity That Supports Modern Construction Workflows
Once Starlink is in place, it powers all the digital tools that modern sites use. Surveyors can upload large 3D scans and drone imagery immediately rather than waiting by the road for a boost. Cloud-based design platforms and document management stay in sync – when an engineer uploads an updated CAD model from the site trailer, office teams see it near-instantly. As one industry report notes, Starlink’s satellites are being used to “deliver broadband SD-WAN connectivity” across remote and enterprise projects, so those large files flow smoothly. That makes on-site collaboration far more efficient: teams can review plans on mobile devices, update tasks in real time, and keep everyone aligned.
Video and remote inspection are also transformed. With a stable Starlink link, speciality contractors or engineers off-site can join live video calls, inspect 4K camera feeds, or mentor field crews via augmented reality tools without worrying about freezes. Safety teams, for example, can keep CCTV monitoring running continuously, thanks to the predictable bandwidth. SD-WAN software further ensures that video streams and mission-critical apps are prioritised over the network. In fact, Starlink’s LEO design and Digital Carbon’s SD-WAN overlay (with dynamic traffic routing) mean even demanding uses like drone live-feed or VR model walkthroughs become practical on-site.
Smarter, Connected Equipment
Heavy machinery on modern sites is increasingly “smart,” with telematics systems that report fuel levels, operating hours, geolocation, and maintenance needs back to the office. These systems only work well if the machines stay online. In remote areas, traditional mobile coverage often drops out as soon as a digger goes behind a hill. With Starlink’s consistent link, equipment data flows continuously. Digital Carbon’s SD-WAN edge devices on site link the Starlink feed with any other available networks (like temporary 5G), and our Dynamic Multipath Optimisation (DMPO) technology reroutes traffic on-the-fly to avoid slow links. The upshot is: even moving machinery stays connected. Managers get live performance dashboards and maintenance alerts, reducing unscheduled downtime and improving fuel planning. Geofencing alerts for unauthorised movement stay reliable because the SD-WAN overlay will send the data over whichever path is best. In other words, Starlink plus VeloCloud gives plant management tools their own guaranteed pipeline, supporting safer, more efficient equipment use.
Efficient Data Flow Across All Sites
Large contractors often juggle multiple projects in different locations. Each site produces a torrent of information – updated drawings, procurement data, progress reports, permits, photos, and more – that needs to be shared with other teams. When site connections are patchy, information bottlenecks form: office teams have old data, subcontractors can’t get updated specs, and clients don’t see real-time progress. Using Starlink via our SD-WAN network creates a highway of information among sites. Branch offices and other projects can securely send and receive data over the Starlink link. Designers can push revised plans to crews immediately; financial teams get live reports of completed work; project managers and clients see the latest dashboards wherever they are. Because our SD-WAN supports multiple underlay links, Starlink can act as a sailover or parallel link. For example, site Wi-Fi and 4G/5G might handle normal load, but if one path falters, traffic is automatically steered onto the Starlink path. This keeps data moving steadily between locations, reducing mistakes caused by outdated information.
IoT and Sensor Networks Stay Online
Sites increasingly deploy IoT sensors – noise, vibration, dust monitors; environmental sensors; structural stress gauges, etc. These devices only help if their readings reliably reach the data centre. Starlink provides a dependable channel for these small but continuous streams of data. For example, if noise monitors detect a spike over a sensitive threshold, the alert is sent immediately to the central system via Starlink, ensuring compliance. Weather stations and pile-driving monitors update in real time for safety and planning. With Digital Carbon’s co-managed SD-WAN, those sensors get assigned a low-priority traffic class, but even when workloads spike, our DMPO and cloud gateways ensure the data still makes it through. This builds a more complete, live picture of site conditions for managers and helps automate reporting. As construction adopts more smart-site tech, having this resilient connectivity becomes even more important.
Connectivity That Adapts to Any Project
No two construction projects are the same. You might have a year-long urban high-rise with dozens of offices and Wi-Fi needs, or a short-term rural pipeline repair crew that moves every week. Starlink’s flexibility suits both. For long projects, we install a permanent Starlink terminal that supports high volumes of traffic all day. For mobile crews, we use rugged, portable kits that travel from site to site. In either case, the user experience is consistent: teams connect to the same standardised Wi-Fi or LAN, and the underlying satellite link just works. Digital Carbon’s SD-WAN configuration can be cloned from one site to the next, so setting up the next project is easy. This means small jobs get the same enterprise-grade tools as big ones. Your IT managers can adopt a single connectivity strategy across the company, rather than piecing together different solutions for each site.
Future-Proofing Your Site Connectivity
The construction industry’s next wave of innovation – from AI-driven quality assurance and digital twins, to mixed reality design reviews and autonomous machinery – all depends on strong data links to cloud services. Sites without reliable connectivity risk being unable to adopt these new tools. By contrast, SpaceX Starlink provides a level playing field. It shrinks the gap between well-connected urban sites and remote locations, so every project can leverage the latest technology. Digital Carbon’s infrastructure is already cloud-ready: our VeloCloud SD-WAN has built-in support for multi-cloud and SaaS via global cloud gateways. This means your teams can use cloud-based BIM software or analytics tools with the assurance that the network will handle it. In practice, having Starlink with SD-WAN means your sites are ready for whatever comes next.
Digital Carbon Co-Managed Connectivity
Digital Carbon’s Co-Managed Services ensure you don’t have to worry about any of the technical details. We truly partner with your team to deliver turnkey connectivity. For IT managers, this means a single vendor takes care of professional design, deployment and ongoing operation. If you need help with architecture or troubleshooting, our engineers are on it. If you need extra bandwidth, we can remotely prioritise new applications or add 5G as a backup. If a terminal needs firmware updates or a field repair, we handle that too. In short, we take care of the entire chain, from the satellite in the sky down to your on-site switches and Access Points.
We believe a strong relationship is the foundation of everything we do. We work closely with your team, effectively becoming an extension of your IT department. That means clear communication, no hidden fees, and fast support whenever you need it. By combining SpaceX Starlink’s cutting-edge satellite network with our expert co-managed approach and Arista VeloCloud SD-WAN (featuring dynamic multipath optimization and cloud gateway acceleration), Digital Carbon gives construction IT managers a simpler path to better connectivity. The outcome is a safer, more efficient build process: crews stay online from day one, data flows freely, and projects are delivered with all the digital insight and collaboration modern sites require.