European space companies OHB, its subsidiary LuxSpace, a provider of space systems, applications and services, and satellite operator OQ Technology have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities in the IoT service sector.

The cooperation will include satellite-based IoT upstream and downstream activities to enhance the portfolio of services available in different markets, including energy, agriculture, defence and the green economy.

Following the signing of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) under the Artes (Advanced Research in Telecommunications System) programme, LuxSpace is developing a flexible microsatellite platform, Triton-X. With a launch mass of around 200kg, high performing on-board processing and the optimisation for rideshare missions, Triton-X is suitable for accommodating OQ’s 5G IoT payload in low Earth orbit (LEO). At the completion of the development phase, the platform is expected to be ready for manufacturing and integration of payloads by mid-2023.

OQ’s cell towers in space and the company’s services suit applications requiring fast and real-time data processing in remote and rural areas, particularly in industries such as oil and gas, logistics, mining, artificial intelligence, drone control, vehicle telematics, and defence.

The agreement will also take into account the use of other OHB space systems for the benefit of OQ.

“OQ Technology is one of the most promising companies in the area of satellite IoT we have talked to,” said Egbert Jan van der Veen, managing director of OHB Venture Capital. “I am very excited about the potential of their technology and looking forward to working together with the team on the upstream as well as the downstream.”

Edgar Milic, CEO of LuxSpace, added: “These are amazing times in the commercial space sector. The roll-out of new applications from space is accelerating thanks to ground-breaking satellite technologies like Triton-X and the vision of satellite operators like OQ Technologies.”

And Omar Qaise, CEO of OQ Technology, said: “Being recognised by OHB, one of Germany’s leading space and technology companies, and its subsidiary LuxSpace demonstrates the strength of our technology and the potential it offers to the global IoT market.”

OQ uses standardised 3GPP cellular technology for NB-IoT and standard mobile chips to connect devices to satellites. By using standard mobile chips, costing about $5 instead of expensive satellite chips of $150 and more, OQ is able to offer cost savings. That means users do not need to develop hardware and can buy existing NB-IoT supported devices to get service in remote areas from OQ Technology.

Last year, OQ launched its first commercial nanosatellite, Tiger-2, and used it to test its hybrid satellite-cellular user terminal in harsh desert conditions. It is looking to add further satellites to its constellation this year.

Through its growing constellation, OQ can provide full coverage for its 5G IoT customers cost-effectively and with the same NB-IoT equipment its customers are using today through a single roaming agreement.

OQ is a satellite cellular 5G IoT operator that provides global cellular IoT and M2M communications through satellites. The company has implemented and demonstrated NB-IoT connectivity over LEO satellites and is deploying a global constellation to provide 3GPP compatible satellite IoT telecommunication services for mobile operators and customers in industries such as energy, mining, logistics, maritime, agriculture and defence. The company’s patented technology that can be embedded in existing cellular chips allows billions of users around the world to have ubiquitous IoT connectivity anywhere and using both terrestrial and satellite networks.

OHB SE is a German space and technology group and an independent force in the European space industry. With over 3000 employees and 14 locations in ten countries, the OHB Group is positioned well to face international competition and has made a name for itself as a partner for government institutions and private companies.

Founded in 2004 as a subsidiary of OHB SE, LuxSpace is located in in Luxembourg and is an integrated provider of microsatellite applications to the global institutional and commercial markets, with a track record of five space systems deployed, including the Triton-2 Esail satellite launched in 2020, and 15 years of experience in developing integrated data services with a focus on the maritime and the more general Earth observation domain.