Through a partnership with Eutelsat, the Wyld Connect hybrid devices can send data directly to terrestrial networks or via a network of Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites. These systems, which have 100 percent global coverage, are designed for agriculture, environmental monitoring, energy, supply chain, and utilities applications in remote places. In the second half of 2022, the entire sensor-to-satellite service will be ready.
The Wyld Connect hybrid terminal may connect to existing sensors directly, while the small modules can be fully integrated as an embedded solution into IoT sensors. Wyld’s cloud-based Fusion platform delivers data from the satellite ground station or terrestrial LoRaWAN gateway, as well as allowing IoT sensors to be registered, configured, authenticated, and controlled remotely.
“The huge demand for IoT connected sensors and devices is being held back by the lack of ubiquitous global connectivity,” said Alastair Williamson, CEO at Cambridge-based Wyld Networks. “It is estimated that only around 15% of the earth’s surface is covered by cellular networks and it is simply not practical or cost effective to install costly, high maintenance network infrastructure over tens of thousands of square kilometres. Only satellites can provide this coverage and in contrast to expensive, power hungry VSAT systems, LEO satellites provide the low-cost solution needed to catapult IoT growth around the world.”
Wyld is now collaborating with TrakAssure on the design and development of a novel sensor-enabled device for global supply chains and asset tracking ecosystems, as well as Bayer, Chevron, Treevia, Agrology, KWS, Agrocognitive, and Wezen Group, among others.
“Existing LPWA networks such as LoRaWAN are ideal to connect low power assets and sensors that don’t need to send much data, but they currently rely on a limited terrestrial infrastructure,” said Luc Perard, Senior Vice President, IoT Business at Eutelsat. “Wyld’s new sensor-to-satellite LoRaWAN terminals and modules now make it possible to harness our network of LEO satellites to deliver low-cost, hybrid terrestrial and satellite connectivity over 100% of the earth’s surface.”
Wyld said it is cooperating with terrestrial LoRaWAN network providers such as Senet and American Tower, in addition to partnering with Eutelsat to deliver LoRaWAN coverage via its low-earth orbiting satellites. Wyld has also included a beaconing system created with Eutelsat to ensure that the terminal and sensor remain in sleep mode until a satellite is available to gather data, ensuring low power usage at all times.
