The recent partnership between Soracom and Skylo has taken IoT connectivity to new heights. Announced at Soracom Discovery 2024, this integration marks a significant advancement in bridging terrestrial and satellite networks to deliver seamless IoT and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) device capabilities. Initially available to select Soracom customers, this collaboration promises enhanced connectivity and robust IoT solutions that transcend traditional geographic and infrastructural limitations.
Unveiling the Integration of Soracom and Skylo
From Private Beta to Global Preview
The partnership transitioned from the Private Beta stage to a global limited preview, allowing select customers to activate Skylo’s Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity via Soracom SIMs/eSIMs. This selective rollout enables qualified users worldwide to experience enhanced IoT connectivity. The initial demonstration during Soracom Discovery 2024 was a testament to the global ambition of this initiative. By progressing from a privately controlled environment to a broader audience, Soracom and Skylo have showcased their commitment to making advanced IoT connectivity more accessible.
This move signifies more than just technological evolution; it opens the doors for a variety of industries to leverage enhanced connectivity. Initially, a handful of Soracom customers will experience this service, providing vital feedback that will shape the future deployment strategies. This phased approach ensures that technical challenges are ironed out before a full-fledged global release. The excitement surrounding this announcement was palpable at Soracom Discovery 2024, where technology leaders, industry experts, and enthusiasts gathered to witness the future of IoT connectivity.
Technological Synergy and Seamless Switching
Soracom and Skylo’s technologies complement each other, enabling seamless switching between terrestrial and satellite-based networks. This feature is pivotal in maintaining connectivity for devices, especially in areas underserved by cellular networks. The cooperation, initially publicized in 2023, aims at delivering robust IoT solutions leveraging Skylo’s direct-to-device 3GPP NTN connectivity. Such seamless integration allows devices to retain functionality without interruption, a crucial factor for industries relying heavily on real-time data.
The synergy between these two platforms means that IoT devices can switch networks without reconfiguration, thanks to Soracom’s multi-network support. This fluid transition between terrestrial and satellite networks is especially beneficial for transportation, agriculture, and remote operations, where maintaining an uninterrupted data flow is vital. The ability to dynamically toggle between different network infrastructures ensures that these industries can operate smoothly even in the most challenging environments, whether urban or rural.
Leveraging 3GPP R.17 Capabilities
Technical Integration and LPWAN Modules
Skylo’s satellite NTN service uses the global 3GPP Release 17 standard, enabling terrestrial network-designed chipsets, modems, and modules to connect via existing satellites. This is especially significant for customers in North America, Europe, and Oceania. Those with 3GPP R.17-capable LPWAN modules can now upgrade their IoT SIM cards with Skylo-based satellite connectivity plans through an over-the-air (OTA) update using Soracom’s Subscription Containers feature. This technical integration is a game-changer for industries relying on low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) technologies.
The added capability essentially transforms existing infrastructure, allowing companies to leverage advanced connectivity without needing extensive hardware overhauls. Customers with compatible modules can reap the benefits of satellite connectivity by simply updating their existing IoT SIM plans, a process facilitated by Soracom’s Subscription Containers feature. This feature simplifies the transition, making it easy for companies to expand their operational footprint into remote and underserved areas, thereby driving greater innovation and efficiency in IoT applications.
Enhancing IoT SIM Plans
The ability to switch to satellite connectivity plans like Soracom’s “plan01s” and “plan-US” with Skylo’s planNT1 provides a flexible and reliable solution for IoT applications. This over-the-air update mechanism ensures devices remain connected, irrespective of cellular network availability, thereby enhancing the resilience and coverage of IoT deployments. Various industries, including transportation, environmental monitoring, and public safety, can benefit from this enhanced connectivity, ensuring that critical data is always accessible.
Switching between connectivity plans also means that businesses can optimize their operations based on situational requirements. If a terrestrial network is down or signal strength is weak, devices can automatically switch to a satellite network, maintaining functionality and data flow. This adaptability ensures continuous operation and data integrity, crucial for real-time monitoring and control. Additionally, this flexibility helps mitigate the inherent challenges of operating in remote or underserved areas, driving more widespread adoption of IoT technologies.
Addressing Connectivity Challenges
Data Transmission and Latency Solutions
While satellite NTN generally has higher latency and data costs compared to cellular networks, Soracom’s platform addresses these challenges by minimizing data transmission and handshake requirements over satellite links. This optimization is crucial for maintaining efficient and cost-effective IoT operations, even in remote or underserved regions. By fine-tuning data protocols, Soracom and Skylo ensure that satellite communications are optimized for IoT devices, reducing latency and improving overall performance.
These improvements are particularly significant for applications where timely data transmission is essential, such as emergency services, remote diagnostics, and mobile asset tracking. By minimizing the need for constant data handshakes and optimizing packet sizes, Soracom’s platform ensures that data flows smoothly even over satellite networks. This optimization not only reduces costs but also enhances the reliability and efficiency of IoT applications, making satellite connectivity a viable option for a broader range of use cases.
Seamless Cloud Integration and Management
Soracom’s platform ensures seamless integration with customers’ preferred cloud services. By optimizing coverage, including satellite failover, and integrating billing and connectivity management via Soracom’s connectivity management portal, customers can manage their IoT networks more effectively. This comprehensive approach mitigates the inherent challenges of satellite connectivity, ensuring a streamlined user experience. The platform’s ability to integrate seamlessly with various cloud providers means that data can be processed and analyzed in real time, irrespective of the network used.
Customers benefit from a unified portal for managing all aspects of their IoT connectivity, from billing to network performance monitoring. This holistic management capability is crucial for large-scale IoT deployments, where disparate systems and multiple network types need to be managed efficiently. By centralizing these functions, Soracom’s platform simplifies network management, reduces administrative overhead, and enhances operational efficiency. The ability to ensure seamless cloud integration and effective management underscores Soracom’s commitment to providing end-to-end solutions for IoT connectivity challenges.
Expanding the Potential of IoT
An Internet of Things Without Limits
Kenta Yasukawa highlights Soracom’s vision of an “Internet of Things without limits.” The integration of Skylo’s 3GPP NTN coverage aligns perfectly with this vision, enabling devices to connect to any cloud service from any location. This vision underscores Soracom’s commitment to overcoming geographic and infrastructural barriers in IoT connectivity. By leveraging satellite networks, Soracom aims to provide uninterrupted connectivity, ensuring that devices function optimally irrespective of their physical location.
This vision of unbounded IoT connectivity is a transformative concept that opens new possibilities for innovation across various sectors. Whether it is agriculture, logistics, or environmental monitoring, the ability to maintain connectivity in the most remote locations ensures that data flows continuously, driving smarter, more efficient operations. This commitment to an IoT without limits is paving the way for applications that were previously thought to be out of reach due to connectivity challenges. It surfaces a future where the physical location of a device is no longer a constraint.
Empowering IoT Applications in Remote Areas
Parth Trivedi emphasizes that deep platform integration and seamless switching between NTN and cellular networks empower Soracom customers to maximize their IoT applications. This capability ensures real-time data access, monitoring, and control in areas not well-served by cellular connectivity. It opens new possibilities for IoT applications in sectors like agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring. With this enhanced connectivity, farmers can implement precision agriculture techniques, logistics companies can track assets in remote locations, and environmental agencies can monitor ecosystems more effectively.
The integration also facilitates the deployment of IoT solutions in disaster-prone or isolated regions, where traditional cellular networks might be unavailable or unreliable. This capability is crucial for emergency response operations, where real-time data can make the difference between life and death. By providing a reliable fallback connectivity option, Soracom and Skylo ensure that critical data is always accessible, enhancing the resilience and adaptability of IoT applications. This expanded potential not only drives innovation but also builds a more intelligent, connected world.
Broader Implications and Future Prospects
Towards a More Connected World
Ray Ozzie of Blues Inc. recognizes the broader significance of this technological advancement. The ability to maintain control and minimize data overhead while connecting via satellite where cellular isn’t feasible is crucial. This development aligns with the goal of transforming physical products into intelligent services through simplified wireless communication, paving the way for more intelligent and connected solutions. By reducing the complexity and cost of satellite communications, Soracom and Skylo are democratizing access to advanced IoT connectivity.
This move has far-reaching implications for industries worldwide. It enables the creation of more resilient supply chains, enhances environmental monitoring capabilities, and supports smart city initiatives by providing reliable connectivity in urban and rural areas alike. The broader adoption of these technologies will drive innovation, improve efficiencies, and foster more sustainable practices across various sectors. This technological leap towards a more connected world underscores the transformative potential of IoT in shaping a smarter, more integrated future.
Driving Innovation in IoT
The recent collaboration between Soracom and Skylo has significantly elevated IoT connectivity. Announced at Soracom Discovery 2024, this partnership represents a major breakthrough in integrating terrestrial and satellite networks to provide seamless connectivity for IoT and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices. Initially, this advanced technology will be available to a select group of Soracom customers, offering them enhanced connectivity and comprehensive IoT solutions. This collaboration aims to overcome traditional geographical and infrastructural barriers, ensuring that even remote or hard-to-reach areas can benefit from robust IoT capabilities.
The partnership is a milestone in the IoT landscape, merging Soracom’s innovative approach to cellular connectivity with Skylo’s expertise in satellite communications. This integration promises to set a new standard for IoT applications, enabling reliable data transmission, real-time monitoring, and operational efficiency across diverse industries. Whether it’s agriculture, logistics, or emergency services, the combined strengths of Soracom and Skylo are poised to deliver unprecedented connectivity, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in IoT technology.
