Spanish satellite connectivity provider Sateliot has joined the IoT M2M Council (IMC) to raise awareness of technology that combines low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity with traditional cellular networks and under the standard 5G protocol.

Sateliot provides connectivity for off-the-shelf, unmodified 5G NB-IoT devices covering 100% of the Earth. The IMC is comprised of 25,000 product makers, designers and enterprise users that deploy IoT products and services in a wide range of vertical markets around the globe.

“Our solution allows the same few-dollars NB-IoT RF module that works over cellular to connect, without any change in hardware, to our constellation of satellites, allowing basically seamless everywhere connectivity,” said Sateliot CCO Gianluca Redolfi, who will represent the company on the IMC board of governors. “We look at the IMC as an ideal platform to establish thought leadership in crucial vertical markets; IMC membership will drive awareness among buyers of IoT technology.”

The combined connectivity service allows for ubiquitous global coverage at a fraction of the cost of traditional satellite connectivity. Sateliot’s early adopters programme is still open and offers early access to the technology at better conditions, already attracting hundreds of companies interested in deploying the services.

The company’s first satellite was launched in March 2021 and plans call for the launch of a broader constellation by first quarter of next year via Space Exploration Technologies – also known as the SpaceX programme – with an eye towards commercialisation in mid-2023.

“We welcome Sateliot and its unrivalled new technology to the IMC board of governors, and we expect to be hearing a lot more about it – and LEO technology in general – in the coming months,” said IMC chairman Romil Bahl, CEO of KORE.

For its part, the IMC provides template RFPs to help its rank-and-file membership source IoT technology, organises educational events, and provides tools to help assess IoT readiness. The IMC is the exclusive IoT infrastructure partner for the Consumer Electronics Show.

The IMC is the largest trade group dedicated to the global IoT and M2M sector with over 25,000 IoT enterprise users, product makers, designers and apps developers that buy IoT products as members. Board companies include 1NCE, Aeris, Airgain, Astrocast, AVSystem, BICS, Blues Wireless, Digi International, Fibocom, FloLive, Ground Control, Gurtam, iBasis, Ignion, IoT Launch, Keyfactor, KORE, Losant, Microsoft Azure IoT, MultiTech, Pelion, Pod Group, Quectel, RevX Systems, Sateliot, Somos, Tata Communications, Telit, Utimaco and Vodafone.