Eseye and Sateliot are to partner to integrate satellite and terrestrial communications seamlessly. The goal is to revolutionise 5G services using advanced LPWAN satellite technology. Those likely to benefit the most are those with no current or planned terrestrial coverage or where coverage is poor. They currently have to rely on other radio networks, including satellite communications.
Adam Hayes, COO at Eseye, comments, “Customers want their devices to connect and by working with Sateliot we can extend coverage beyond the current cellular offer. Together, we are paving the way for seamless, global connectivity that takes Eseye’s already highly resilient network to new heights to enable the interconnected world of tomorrow.”
How will this work?
Using the new 3GPP Release 17 standard, the two companies will use multi-RAT (Radio Access Technologies). From an operator perspective, it provides a common control plane and the ability to aggregate traffic flows over different Radio Access Networks (RAN). It allows them to offer customers a single service rather than having the customer integrate different networks.
A more important benefit for the customer is that this means they will only need a single SIM card. Previously, attempts to do this required a SIM card for each network that they were using. From a device perspective, it reduces the engineering complexity and cost by only requiring a single SIM slot. This means existing IoT devices can be equipped with a new SIM card and now have access to terrestrial and satellite networks. This is a major benefit for remote sensors.
This is all made possible by Sateliot’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) 5G / NB-IoT satellite constellation. Its support for the 3GPP Release 17 standard provides a seamless extension of existing cellular networks across the whole of the planet.
Boosting Industrial IoT connectivity
Eseye and Sateliot are both looking at the possibilities for IoT connectivity. From an industrial perspective, mining and exploration companies will see this as a significant benefit. There are also gains for military and shipping businesses. Interestingly, the release talks about how it will also boost industrial IoT deployments, especially where terrestrial coverage is weak.
That weak coverage is not just about remote parts of the planet. Anyone who has driven long distances around the USA, Europe, Australia, China, and parts of Asia will know how poor the reception of highways is. As people increasingly rely on mobile phone technology for navigation, this has the potential to improve that. There are also more people walking and trekking in remote areas. This has the potential for better emergency communications.
Enterprise Times: What does this mean?
While Eseye sees the initial uptake among its customers as being for cellular-enabled IoT devices, there is a much wider opportunity here. There are many people who live outside the reach of cellular networks. The ITU estimates that 96% of the global population has access to 3G. However, only 51% have access to 5G.
The global population currently stands at over 8 billion. That means that 400 million have no cellular connectivity, and almost 4 billion have no 5G connectivity. This move by Eseye and Sateliot could open the door to a new wave of global communication. For those with little to no cellular coverage, this will give them access to information and open new opportunities.
