MTN Unveils StarEdge Horizon for Enterprise LEO Links

MTN has announced the release of StarEdge Horizon, a Layer 2-based solution for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity built on SpaceX’s Starlink network. The service enables enterprise customers to move data over a private path from remote sites to MTN’s regional points of presence (PoPs), keeping information off the public internet.

By design, MTN confirms that the approach improves predictability, provides secure enterprise connections and reduces network management complexity. Customers can integrate secondary links, including OneWeb, LTE or 5G and VSAT, allowing automatic network continuity in the event of outage or congestion.

“StarEdge Horizon is a fundamental shift in how LEO is deployed for enterprise users,” says Emmanuel Cotrel, Chief Executive Officer at MTN.

Emmanuel adds that the company is aligning the service architecture with enterprise network models that extend corporate security and consistent speed through private Layer 2 infrastructure.

He explains: “We are moving beyond basic internet access to deliver a true Layer 2 private network solution. This is about providing corporate security, guaranteed high-speed, with a simplified network and seamless integration for redundancy.

“This ensures that mission-critical operations in every remote corner of the globe are always connected with fibre-level secure connectivity.”

Layer 2 networks enable two endpoints to communicate as if they exist on the same local network. It reduces protocol translation and routing overhead, creating a more direct exchange of data between corporate centres and remote operations.

StarEdge Horizon strengthens corporate WAN integration

According to MTN, StarEdge Horizon provides a flexible framework for organisations aiming to expand or consolidate their private infrastructure across dispersed remote sites.

The private path created by MTN allows enterprise networks to connect to their corporate Wide Area Network (WAN) via MTN’s PoPs.

The architecture centralises internet access at either MTN’s servers or the customer’s data centre, enabling unified security policies and traffic monitoring.

As Emmanuel notes, the system design simplifies integration and visibility while reducing the number of independent security policies enterprises must manage across multiple endpoints.

MTN notes that the centralised model provides greater cybersecurity transparency and reduces operational costs. Remote employees or equipment communicate through a secure, predefined route that bypasses typical public internet exposure.

Maintaining continuity through network prioritisation

The StarEdge Horizon system is built to incorporate Network Segmentation and Quality of Service (QoS) prioritisation. These features allow users to distinguish between streams of traffic based on criticality and bandwidth requirements.

It states that, in the event of network saturation, mission-critical data, such as industrial control systems and real-time monitoring feeds, is prioritised over routine web traffic.

The focus on data prioritisation aligns with operational requirements in remote industrial sectors such as energy, construction and logistics.

The industries often rely on telemetry, monitoring and secure command systems that need consistent, latency-free connection paths.

StarEdge Horizon integrates readily with secondary network options, including OneWeb, LTE and traditional VSAT links. It ensures service continuity during disruptions or congestion on any single channel.

The automatic failover is managed at the network layer, ensuring connectivity consistency across their entire estate of remote or mobile terminals.

Linking directly to cloud providers

MTN confirms that StarEdge Horizon includes a direct connectivity option to major cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. The feature supports low-latency cloud access while reducing reliance on public routing.

The Layer 2 setup thus enhances the predictability of enterprise-grade cloud operations, particularly for organisations centralising analytics or security oversight at cloud-based hubs.

The service provides static IP addressing and subnet allocation, enabling each connected site or device to maintain a fixed network identity. Emmanuel explains that this enables consistent policy enforcement and performance tracking via enterprise management tools.

The ability to allocate static addresses under a single administrative framework supports compliance with industry-wide record-keeping and system-traceability requirements. Enterprises operating regionally distributed sites can benefit from unified control for remote access, security listing and visibility.

Scaling to maritime deployments in 2026

While initially launching to land-based operators, MTN plans to extend StarEdge Horizon to the maritime sector in the first quarter of 2026. It currently supports enterprise fleets operating in geographically dispersed regions and expects similar use cases offshore.

Maritime applications are likely to centre on logistics, offshore energy operations and vessel management systems where reliable backhaul is essential.

Emmanuel says MTN’s focus is on delivering consistent enterprise performance across geographies, drawing on multiple satellite infrastructures for redundancy.

“Enterprises expect their connectivity to behave predictably across every network environment,” he notes. “With StarEdge Horizon, we are ensuring that expectation is met.”