In today’s connected world, reliable internet access defines the efficiency and competitiveness of every modern institution. From research centres and corporate campuses to maritime operations and industrial facilities, digital infrastructure has become the backbone of innovation. When traditional connectivity solutions fall short, advanced satellite systems like Starlink step in to bridge the gap. Yet even the most powerful single satellite connection can be limited when faced with large-scale demands.
Recognizing this, FieldBase Services Limited, a pioneering African engineering company specialising in maritime connectivity, advanced electronics, and network infrastructure, designed and deployed a high-capacity bonded Starlink solution. The project demonstrates how intelligent engineering can transform multiple low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connections into one resilient and high-performance digital backbone.
Our Project
FieldBase has been commissioned to integrate several Starlink internet terminals into a unified system that delivers both speed and reliability. The objective was to create a connectivity solution capable of sustaining high user loads, supporting data-intensive applications, and maintaining uptime even during individual link interruptions.
At the core of the project was the Peplink BPL SDX, configured as the main aggregator. FieldBase engineers bonded five Starlink terminals using Peplink’s SpeedFusion technology, combining their individual bandwidths to form a single, seamless high-speed connection.
The Challenge of Single-Link Satellite Connectivity
While Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellites offer impressive download and upload speeds under ideal conditions, a single antenna often cannot support environments with hundreds of concurrent users or continuous cloud-based activity. Video conferencing, streaming, e-learning, and enterprise applications demand greater bandwidth and redundancy than a single link can provide.
FieldBase approached this challenge by designing a bonded architecture that multiplies total bandwidth capacity while ensuring service continuity. This approach effectively merges the benefits of multiple Starlink units into one intelligent, adaptive system.
Scope of Work
The Peplink BPL SDX device was deployed and connected to five individual Starlink terminals. Since the hardware natively supports four WAN interfaces, the engineering team repurposed one LAN port to create an additional WAN connection for the fifth terminal.
All five links were integrated through SpeedFusion bonding, which activated advanced features including:
- Bandwidth Bonding: The combined strength of five Starlink connections delivered near gigabit-class performance.
- Hot Failover: Seamless continuity ensured that users never experienced interruptions during link failures.
- WAN Smoothing: Reduced packet loss and jitter for smoother real-time communications.
- Forward Error Correction (FEC): Improved reliability across satellite connections.
- End-to-End Encryption: All bonded tunnels were secured with AES 256-bit encryption for enhanced data protection.
Testing and Validation
FieldBase conducted a series of rigorous tests to verify the performance of the bonded system. This process included:
- Throughput Testing: Measuring total combined bandwidth and verifying that it met required performance benchmarks.
- Failover Simulation: Testing network resilience during intentional link interruptions to confirm stability.
- Application Testing: Running multiple real-world workloads, including video conferencing, cloud operations, and large data transfers, to assess response and latency.
The results confirmed that the bonded system provided low latency, high throughput, and consistent service availability, even during variable network conditions.
Deliverables
Upon completion, FieldBase delivered:
- A fully operational Peplink BPL SDX bonded with five Starlink WAN connections.
- Comprehensive documentation and walkthroughs for the client’s IT team.
- Training on remote monitoring and performance management through Peplink’s InControl2 platform.
Outcome and Impact
The project achieved a new level of connectivity performance and resilience. By combining multiple Starlink links, FieldBase delivered gigabit-class speeds suitable for demanding digital environments, including enterprise networks, campuses, maritime vessels, and remote industrial locations. The solution not only enhanced internet reliability but also improved application stability and data security.
This deployment demonstrates how engineering ingenuity can overcome the inherent limitations of satellite connectivity. More importantly, it sets a new benchmark for what is possible when advanced hardware, intelligent design, and real-world problem-solving intersect.
FieldBase’s Broader Vision
Beyond this project, FieldBase continues to lead the evolution of maritime and terrestrial connectivity across Africa. The company’s expertise spans network engineering, electronics, and digital integration for mission-critical operations. By harnessing technologies like Starlink and SpeedFusion, FieldBase enables organizations to thrive in environments where conventional connectivity is unreliable or unavailable.
Their work proves that the future of connectivity in Africa will not rely solely on technology, but on how that technology is engineered, adapted, and optimized to meet the continent’s unique challenges.To learn more about FieldBase’s connectivity and maritime solutions, visit fbase.co.uk.
