The mining and energy industries no longer treat satellite connectivity as a “backup” for remote sites; it has become the backbone for autonomous operations and environmental safety in “dead zones” that are inaccessible to fiber and cellular networks. The convergence of IT and OT is making geography irrelevant for heavy industries, as the satellite IoT market is projected to grow at a 24% CAGR and high-speed multi-orbit solutions are now reducing on-site safety incidents by nearly 30 percent. We spoke with Nick Roullier, who leads SES’s Fixed Data practice, about the rollout of multi-orbit systems and the shift toward long-term digital ecosystems.
Satellite World (SW): Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at SES.
Nick Roullier (NR): I lead the Fixed Data practice at SES. My focus is closing the digital divide for industries operating in the world’s most remote and demanding environments. We work directly with energy, mining, and telecom partners, building reciprocal models where we sell with and through, not just to. It’s about shared investment, long-term ecosystems, and bringing enterprise-grade connectivity to the operational edge.
SW: Let’s talk digital transformation in the Energy and Natural Resources space. What tech/solutions pushed innovation forward in 2025 and will continue this year as growth accelerates?
NR: The big shift is IT and OT finally converging. Multi-orbit connectivity – blending NGSO performance with GEO scale – together with private 5G, cloud, and edge compute, means a remote site can operate like it’s connected to fiber. At scale, that translates into lower cost per BOE, reduced emissions, and safer, more automated operations.
SW: How is low-latency connectivity, now a “must-have”, allowing these sectors to grow and connect?
NR: Low-latency effectively removes the barrier of distance. With near-fiber performance from systems like O3b mPOWER, experts can support remote operations in real time, allowing companies to centralize expertise instead of sending people into the field. That reduces travel, lowers logistics costs and emissions, and keeps people out of harm’s way.
SW: How has connectivity impacted this sector? Why is this important for these organizations?
NR: Offshore platforms are streaming live operational data to shore. Mines are managing fleets and growing autonomy from remote control centers. Distributed energy networks are unifying thousands of assets under one secure architecture.
At the same time, we’re working with the European Commission to extend resilient connectivity into regions like Central Asia, helping bridge national digital gaps while enabling some of the world’s largest energy operators to run cleaner and more efficiently.
The outcome is consistent: better decisions, faster intervention, lower emissions, improved safety.
SW: As we look to Mobile World Congress (MWC), what key messages would you like to get into market?
NR: Multi-orbit is proven and operational now. Partnership is the key – satellite, telco, governments and industry aligned around shared outcomes. And the value is measurable: lower production costs, lower carbon intensity, and safer operations wherever assets are located.
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