Sateliot adds four satellites to connect seven million devices

  • March 12, 2024
  • Steve Rogerson

Satellite IoT firm Sateliot plans to launch four more satellites into space this year to connect nearly seven million IoT devices.

The Spanish company was the first to operate a low-Earth orbit (LEO) 5G IoT satellite constellation acting as a seamless roaming extension of cellular networks

With the deployment of these four satellites using SpaceX plus the two already orbiting the Earth, Sateliot has entered the first phase of its constellation, opening its commercial phase.

Sateliot, which counts partners such as Indra, Cellnex and Sepides, will begin billing the €187m of binding orders with over 350 clients in more than 50 countries worldwide. With these recurring revenues, the company aims to generate €500m in revenue by 2027 and become a €1bn revenue company by 2030.

The company has recently raised €13.5m, of which €6m came from Banco Santander, €5m from a convertible note, and the remaining €2.5m from a participative loan from the public company Avançsa. These funds, along with the start of series B, will allow it to advance its technology development, launch the four satellites, and strengthen the human team for the complete deployment of its constellation in 2027 and 2028, providing real-time coverage worldwide.

The satellites consist of four cubesats, each 20 by 10 by 35cm in size. They are the size of a microwave and have a net weight of 10kg. They will orbit at an altitude of between 500 and 600km, have a lifespan of five years, and cover 100% of the planet.

However, the fundamental part of these satellites lies in their interior, supported by their own technology tested and validated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the 3GPP. This technology is standard and democratic, open to all citizens, public administrations and companies.

Being standard makes it scalable, easy to maintain, and updated, allowing for the progressive deployment of the constellation according to user demands. It starts with connectivity services for IoT applications such as agriculture, which only require two daily messages, and ends with real-time services worldwide. In this way, Sateliot can provide service with its first-phase constellation as opposed to other companies that need to deploy many more satellites for a similar commercial start.

Sateliot is known worldwide for satellite IoT and is one of the main companies driving the Spanish New Space, a strategic sector that has taken advantage of technological advances, reduced development times and low investment costs to give renewed impetus to the industry.

“We are ready to enter a new dimension, both technologically and commercially,” said Jaume Sanpera, CEO of Sateliot (sateliot.space) “We are closer to becoming the first IoT constellation operating worldwide under the 5G standard. And we will place Spain at the forefront of the New Space revolution.”