The two businesses announced on July 20 that they are working together to create a dual 5G NB-IoT connectivity service. Through its Telefónica Tech and Telefónica Global Solutions (TGS) divisions, the Spanish telecoms firm is working with the satellite Internet of Things business Sateliot, which is also headquartered in Spain. To provide IoT connection, the firms are aiming to combine Sateliot’s satellite network with Telefónica Tech’s current terrestrial NB-IoT networks.
The final product, created by Telefónica Tech, TGS, and Sateliot, would combine their managed IoT network, Kite, with Sateliot’s satellite network. The devices would be able to connect to both current terrestrial networks and the satellite network thanks to its compatibility with 3GPP standards and previously existing NB-IoT connectivity devices.
Later this year, Telefónica Tech and TGS want to launch the first pre-commercial client pilots. They are focusing on the industries that could profit from this connectivity in remote places, including agriculture, shipping, wind farms, solar farms, and cattle.
“At Telefónica Tech we continue to evolve our connectivity portfolio with the most innovative services on the market. We are convinced that these types of solutions will help us to consolidate our position as a benchmark in IoT thanks to our Kite platform and other innovation projects based on virtualization and the deployment of the network in the cloud. 5G satellite connectivity access provides a standards-based answer to IoT customers who require full coverage using the same NB-IoT devices that the industry already has,” commented Carlos Carazo, technology & technical operations director of IoT and Big Data at Telefónica Tech.
This alliance fits with Sateliot’s go-to-market plan to collaborate with mobile network providers and provide a satellite-based IoT roaming solution. The business has one satellite in space, 3B5GSAT, and earlier this year secured a 10 million euro Series A financing round.
