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The Internet of Things (IoT) is playing an increasingly pivotal role in daily life, with advancements such as Industrial IoT and Smart Cities gaining greater significance. However, connectivity remains a key challenge in fully realizing these innovations.
To address this, Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is enhancing global network coverage for its IoT services by integrating cellular 5G NB-NTN satellite communications alongside traditional terrestrial mobile connectivity, ensuring seamless and reliable global connectivity.
Mobile network access is now available in most parts of the world’s landmass, yet vast areas, such as at sea, in remote locations, and across rural regions, still lack coverage. This gap presents a significant challenge for the rapidly expanding IoT sector, as many applications depend on seamless and widespread network access to operate effectively. Without extended coverage in these previously inaccessible areas, the full potential of IoT solutions cannot be realized.
G+D is further closing this connectivity gap through a cooperation with Skylo, a pioneer in Non-Terrestrial Network communications, via its commercially available satellite network service. This service spans five continents, connecting to existing Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) constellations and extending to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations as they come online. It complements G+D’s existing partnership with Sateliot, a LEO network operator. Both Skylo and Sateliot utilize the same cellular technology as existing mobile networks, enabling cost-effective satellite connectivity through the expansive cellular ecosystem.
For global IoT connectivity, G+D can now access both GEO satellites, positioned at approximately 36,000 kilometers, and LEO satellites, orbiting between 400 and 1,500 kilometers. IoT devices automatically switch between mobile and satellite communication when required, ensuring seamless connectivity without user intervention. The partnership with Skylo enables commercial operations today.
G+D distributes its IoT services as a complete solution, including iSIM, eSIM, or pSIM technologies, along with IoT connectivity managed via an IoT platform. Companies can also choose to purchase individual components, such as secure connectivity or the management system.
The potential applications for G+D’s IoT solutions are extensive. Use cases include asset tracking and smart farming. In the transportation and logistics sector, satellite connectivity plays a crucial role in monitoring and tracking goods in remote areas or at sea, where mobile network coverage is limited. Devices can transmit and receive critical data, such as location and temperature, to maintain the integrity of goods over satellite. Similarly, in agriculture, IoT solutions with comprehensive network coverage enable farmers to monitor key data points, such as soil moisture and crop maturity, optimizing yields and improving efficiency.
Dr. Philipp Schulte, CEO, G+D Mobile Security
As demand for IoT connectivity continues to rise, the need for seamless global network coverage becomes essential. Only through the assurance of comprehensive global connectivity can the full potential of IoT applications be realized and leveraged to its maximum impact. Through our new partnership with Skylo, we can now further close this coverage gap by offering IoT services that utilize both mobile networks and GEO and LEO-based satellite networks. This combination of cellular terrestrial networks such as 5G with cellular satellite-based non-terrestrial networks will support seamless coverage of all IoT devices anywhere in the world.
Ray Sharma is an Industry Analyst and Editor at The Fast Mode. He has over 15 years of experience in mobile broadband technologies and solutions, conducting research and analysis on various technology segments and producing articles and write-ups on the latest developments within the sector. He is also in charge of social media engagement and industry liaisons.
Follow him on LinkedIn or Facebook. He can be reached at ray.sharma@thefastmode.com
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