SatDefender

Main concept:

Problem: Lightning strikes can damage DSL modems, which can be costly for ISPs to replace and frustrating for customers. According to a study by the European Commission, the estimated average annual cost of lightning damage in the EU is €1.2 billion.

Solution: A system that uses existing European space data (ECMWF API for lightning probability maps, which gets it's data from the Copernicus system) to send a warning to DSL modems in mostly rural areas via MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) through an API server, which automatically turns it off during a lightning storm, and automatically turns it on afterwards. The system can also be controlled manually through a dedicated mobile app.

How it works: The system works by monitoring the lightning probability maps provided by the ECMWF API. When a lightning storm is detected in a particular area, the system sends a warning to DSL modems in that area via MQTT. The modems are then automatically isolated and protected until the storm has passed.

Benefits:

• Reduce costs associated with replacing damaged modems,

• Improve customer satisfaction by reducing downtime,

• Reduce environmental impact by reducing the need for technicians to visit customers' homes

Target clients: ISPs

Why ISPs would be interested: ISPs would be interested in this product because it can help them to reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce environmental impact.

Value proposition:

• The cost of replacing a modem for 100.000 users is 5.000.000 - 10.000.000€

• The cost of protecting modems of 100.000 users is 500.000€ - 1.000.000€

• Cost savings: Our product can help ISPs to save up to 50% on the cost of replacing damaged modems.

• Improved customer satisfaction: Our product can help ISPs to improve customer satisfaction by reducing downtime.

• Reduced environmental impact: Our product can help ISPs to reduce environmental impact by reducing the need for technicians to visit customers' homes.

Roadmap:

• Acquire 10,000 users in 1-2 years through a contract with an ISP.

• Acquire 100,000 users in 2-3 years.

How we plan to acquire new customers: We plan to acquire new customers by attending industry events, networking with ISP executives, and offering free trials of our product.

Team:

• The team will require at least 2 members in the first 1-2 years: a server administrator and software developer.

• An additional 2 members will be required in 2-3 years, growing the team to 4: a QA engineer and a tech support engineer.

• After 3 years, after the project grows, an additional 2 members will be required, raising the number to 6: an additional software developer and an additional QA engineer.

Skills and experience required: Our team members will need to have experience in server administration, software development, QA engineering, and technical support.

Installation:

• The installation of the equipment itself could be accomplished by the end users, or the ISP technicians, when initially connecting the equipment.

Benefits over fuses and surge protectors:

• More proactive: The system can proactively turn off the DSL modem when a lightning storm is detected, before the modem is damaged. Fuses and surge protectors can only react to damage after it has already occurred.

• More comprehensive protection: The system can protect against a wider range of lightning-related damage, including indirect strikes and surges that are too small to trigger a fuse or surge protector.

• Less disruptive: The system can automatically turn the DSL modem back on when the lightning storm has passed, without requiring any intervention from the user. Fuses and surge protectors may require the user to manually replace them after a lightning strike.

Team:

• Emanuel Pračić, UI/UX Designer

• Frane Potrč, Software Engineer

• Karlo Nekić, Backend/Data Guru