Deutsche Telekom claims to be the first telco to offer Internet of Things services via satellites in different orbits and terrestrial mobile networks for more reliable connectivity in hard-to-reach places.
The multi-orbit narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) roaming operates at geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), low Earth orbit (LEO) and on mobile networks on the ground, by combining services from satellite newcomers Skylo, Sateliot and OQ Technology, and old-timer Iridium.
The idea is to blend the continuous coverage of GEO with the lower latency and higher data rates of LEO, DT explained.
Skylo enables GEO coverage while Sateliot and OQ Technology provide connectivity to LEO satellites.
In addition, the German operator said in the second half of this year, it will add into the mix Iridium's LEO-based NTN Direct for IoT applications, following their partnership announced in September last year.
The various satellite links connect into DT's IoT network that supports NB-IoT and low-power, wide-area LTE-M for narrowband applications.
Related:Iridium relaunches its pitch for D2D connectivity
Multi-orbit NB-IoT connectivity is available to DT's European customers and designed for companies that have deployed outdoor IoT devices that transmit low volumes of data each month.
DT launched its first satellite-based NB-IoT service with Skylo in March 2024. The new offering supports connectivity in more than one orbit at a time for redundancy and expands the number of satellite partners integrated into service for more roaming options.
Deutsche Telekom and Skylo also worked on a direct-to-device proof of concept last year, but the service has not been launched.
For IoT apps that transmit more data, DT also has partnerships with Intelsat and Viasat.
Skylo recently partnered with Vodafone IoT for satellite NB-IoT. It has a longer relationship with Verizon for D2D messaging since August 2024 and underpins the D2D service Orange launched at the end of last year.
Multi-orbit IoT in the making
DT has been working on the multi-orbit concept for combined mobile and satellite networks since 2024 through a program with 15 companies and five research organizations. Partners leading the efforts included Kyocera, Nordic Semiconductor, OQ Technology, Sateliot and Skylo.
The companies involved tried prototypes of the service last year.
For example, Spanish tech company Datakorum uses integrated terrestrial and satellite connectivity to monitor water, energy, oil and gas infrastructure in remote areas with no mobile coverage. LEO satellites are used for a backup connection.
French company MountAIn uses satellite NB-IoT for image processing in remote regions to detect forest fires or risks to critical infrastructure in real time. Slovenian company EMA uses the combined satellite and mobile NB-IoT to track fishing boats and merchant ships.
Deutsche Telekom will present more about its multi-orbit NB-IoT roaming at Mobile World Congress in a couple of weeks.
Source: https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/deutsche-telekom-expands-satellite-iot-with-multi-orbit-first
