VPNs in Non-Terrestrial Networks

The Advantages of Using VPNs for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)

Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) offer exciting possibilities for IoT connectivity in remote areas, but they also introduce challenges such as high data transmission costs, security risks, and complex bidirectional communication. Integrating a VPN with Monogoto’s cloud is an effective solution to overcome these issues.

Challenges with Traditional Data Traffic in NTN IoT

Higher costs: Data transmissions over NTN networks are significantly more expensive than traditional terrestrial IoT networks (Non-NTN). Each piece of data carries a higher cost, especially since satellite bandwidth is limited.

UDP-related challenges: In the NTN IoT landscape, data traffic is primarily transmitted using the UDP (User Datagram Protocol). While UDP is lightweight and efficient, it presents challenges because it does not encrypt data by default, leaving it vulnerable to interception. Additionally, UDP lacks guaranteed delivery, raising reliability concerns for critical IoT applications.

Device Identification Overhead: Without a VPN solution, devices need to include identification information within the traffic to trace the data back to its source. This increases the size of data packets, further driving up costs. A mere 50 byte increase in the size of a data packet already affects the transmission costs.

Bidirectional Traffic Challenges: NTN IoT often requires bidirectional communication between devices and application servers. Managing bidirectional traffic over NTN can be complex, as it involves maintaining consistent and reliable connections, further increasing resource usage and costs.

A potential solution is to implement a VPN. A VPN enables encrypted traffic without overloading the NTN network, reduces the need for additional identification data from devices, and ensures secure, efficient bidirectional data exchange.

Advantages of VPNs in NTN IoT

The key benefits of integrating a VPN connection with Monogoto's cloud include:

• Allocation of Private Network Addresses: When devices are connected to a VPN, each device is assigned a private IP address as part of the customer's network. This inherently provides the necessary identification, eliminating the need to add extra identification data in packets.

• Cost Savings: By reducing packet sizes and avoiding additional data overhead, data transmission costs can be reduced.

• Simplified Management: Using private IP addresses simplifies network management and improves data traceability.

• Enhanced Two-Way Communication: Devices connected to a VPN operate within the same private network, making two-way communication more efficient and secure.

• Improved Security and Access Control: A VPN adds an additional layer of security by encrypting data traffic and isolating the network from public exposure. This ensures sensitive IoT data remains protected and accessible only to authorized users and systems.

Conclusion

A VPN connection in the NTN IoT ecosystem addresses key challenges related to data costs, device identification, and communication efficiency. By allocating private IP addresses to devices and enabling seamless two-way communication, integrating a VPN with Monogoto's cloud delivers significant benefits for organizations leveraging NTN IoT networks.

Useful links

• Getting started with the NTN developer kit: NTN kit / how to order NTN developer kit

• Learn more about how to setup a VPN: VPN setup examples