German operator O₂ Telefónica is working with California-based Skylo Technologies, a provider of satellite-based telecommunications, to enable global IoT connectivity.

Skylo’s non-terrestrial network (NTN), which transmits from space, can complement networks on Earth and help fill coverage gaps. Currently, special terminals are needed to communicate with satellites. In the future, integrated 5G radio modules will seamlessly switch between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

These radio modules will use O₂ Telefónica’s integrated SIM (iSIM). This will change the way companies can seamlessly, reliably, sustainably and cost-effectively network their IoT devices and ensure data transmission.

Satellite-based IoT networking offers options for situations where terrestrial networks reach their limits. For example, in remote areas, it can be difficult to connect stationary IoT devices, such as sensors for agriculture, to the cellular network.

In addition, more than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans. For this, the hybrid cellular-satellite connectivity service provides network coverage and enables IoT applications in areas that were previously difficult to reach. This is especially true in countries where there are no terrestrial NB-IoT networks. Companies can use the service to network and monitor their devices on a global scale.

O₂ Telefónica and Skylo will launch the 3GPP-compliant hybrid satellite-based NB-IoT connectivity service in the first quarter of 2024 for seamless NB-IoT satellite coverage in North America and Europe. The partners will gradually expand the offering to other continents.

“Our collaboration with Skylo is an important building block,” said Karsten Pradel, director at O₂ Telefónica. “Together with Skylo, we can now offer our customers one-stop IoT networking even in remote areas. This new hybrid approach, supported by satellite technology, complements our IoT portfolio and demonstrates how we are driving digitalisation and seamlessly connecting businesses worldwide.”

Parsanna Iyengar, director of product management at Skylo, added: “We are delighted to partner with O₂ Telefónica. Providing terrestrial and satellite connectivity from a single source offers businesses reliable, flexible, seamless and global connectivity, regardless of their location or specific requirements.”

O₂ Telefónica (www.telefonica.de) offers a hybrid connectivity service with iSIM. This saves costs, increases security and improves sustainability. The iSIM is integrated directly into the IoT radio chip, allowing for a more compact, lightweight and cost-effective design. Users can upgrade their IoT installations to O₂ Telefónica’s direct-to-satellite service via software update, reducing investment and optimising return on investment.

Skylo (www.skylo.tech) is an NTN provider based in Mountain View, California, that offers a service that enables smartphone and IoT mobile devices to connect directly over existing satellites. The satellite-connected devices are managed and served by Skylo’s commercial NTN vRAN, which includes a cloud-native base station and core based on 3GPP standards.

Skylo works with existing satellite operators, terrestrial mobile network operators and device manufacturers to provide connectivity that seamlessly switches between terrestrial and satellite networks anywhere, anytime. Skylo is focused on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows for machines at work in critical industries such as agriculture, shipping, logistics and mining, in addition to mass-market devices.