Blog Archives | Page 2 of 17

Small aviation operations—flight schools, tourist flights, and private fleets—often venture into areas where communication can be a challenge. Pilots need reliable tools to ensure safety, track their progress, and communicate effectively, even in remote regions. Yet, many still rely on cell phones or satellite phones for these critical tasks, despite their limitations.

Here’s why a dedicated satellite tracking device isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessity that can save lives.

We asked 138 aviators who variously pilot helicopters (30%), gliders (18%), light aircraft (43%), cargo aircraft (25%) or military aircraft (15%) what, if anything, they were using to track their flights.

67% of respondents said they utilized the GPS on their cell phone; 34% had a satellite phone, and 33% had a dedicated satellite tracking device for this purpose (respondents were allowed to pick more than one answer).

While this didn’t come as a huge surprise, there are drawbacks of relying on cell phones. Coverage can be spotty, due to both the altitude and the remote locations visited, and also due to weather conditions. Cell phone service can be negatively affected by storms, wind, rain and even simply cloud cover (source).

Satellite phones are generally less affected by weather, and don’t suffer from coverage issues; they are, however, designed primarily for voice communication, and have none of the specialized features that pilots can benefit from with a dedicated aviation tracking solution.

We asked the same group what they valued most in a tracking solution, and, aggregating ‘essential’ and ‘nice to have’, the results were:

91% – Location alerts (moving in and out of geofences, stop/start etc.)
88% – Mission reports (e.g. mission ID, asset details, route, crew, cargo etc.)
87% – Real-time tracking
86% – Distress notifications and escalations
85% – Two-way messaging
83% – Electronic flight bag*

So there is widespread consensus of the value of aviation tracking, but as seen above, only a third of respondents had a dedicated solution for this.

*Advanced messaging including transmission of flight manifest, weight, balance etc.

Why Dedicated Satellite Tracking Devices Excel

Dedicated satellite tracking devices, like the RockAIR, are purpose-built for aviation. Here’s what sets them apart:

Aviation-Specific Features

Altitude Recording: Provides critical data unique to aviation, unlike general-purpose devices
Emergency Response: Distress notifications and escalation processes to ensure swift action when every second counts
Location Alerts: Track movement in and out of geofenced areas or detect when a plane has stopped unexpectedly.

Reliability in Critical Moments

Real-Time Tracking: Enables precise monitoring of flight paths, crucial for safety and coordination
Mission Reports: Record mission details such as route, crew, and cargo - helpful for operational efficiency and compliance
Two-Way Messaging: Communicate instantly, even in areas with no cell coverage.

Designed to Last

Long Battery Life: Far exceeds that of cell phones or satellite phones, ensuring uninterrupted service
Durability: Built to withstand extreme conditions, including potential crashes, ensuring operability when it’s needed most.

A Real-Life Lifesaving Story

The value of dedicated tracking devices isn’t theoretical—it’s proven. British pilot Sam Rutherford was flying in the Canadian wilderness when a crash left him stranded in freezing temperatures. Despite the dire situation, he managed to send a location-based message using his RockSTAR device. This timely communication enabled rescuers to locate and save him.

Without a dedicated satellite tracking device, Sam’s story might have ended very differently.

Key Use Cases in Small Aviation

Flight Schools

For flight schools, safety is paramount. Dedicated tracking devices allow instructors to monitor student pilots in real time, providing peace of mind and a critical safety net during training flights.

Tourist Flights

Scenic flights often traverse remote or rugged terrain. Real-time tracking and emergency features not only protect pilots but also reassure passengers of their safety.

Small Private Fleets

Fleet operators benefit from improved efficiency and safety with mission reports, real-time tracking, and emergency response capabilities, ensuring that every flight runs smoothly.

Why Not Cell Phones or Satellite Phones?

While cell phones and satellite phones play a role in communication, they fall short in critical ways:

	Cell Phones	Satellite Phones	Satellite Tracking Devices
Altitude Recording
Real-Time Tracking		*Some Models
Distress Notifications		*Some Models
Battery Life	Low	Medium	High
Durability	Low	Medium	High

Dedicated satellite tracking devices stand out as the only option that checks every box for aviation safety and reliability.

Flying with a dedicated satellite tracking device is more than a practical choice—it’s a lifesaving decision. From real-time tracking to emergency response, these devices are purpose-built to meet the demands of small aviation.

Can we help?

Don’t leave safety up in the air. Discover the RockSTAR, RockAIR, and other Ground Control solutions to ensure your operations are as safe and efficient as possible.

Contact us by completing the form, or emailing hello@groundcontrol.com; we’ll respond to your inquiry within one working day.

We’re excited to announce our strategic partnership with Locate Global, a prominent provider of incident management and workforce safety technology. This collaboration enhances workforce safety and incident response capabilities by integrating Ground Control’s high-speed satellite communication into Locate Global’s platform.

Locate Global’s platform enhances workforce safety and incident management through real-time location tracking, geofencing, and multi-channel communication tools.

It offers shake-triggered alerts, peer reporting, and immediate location data with video and audio to streamline emergency responses.

The system’s centralized dashboard also provides insights via heat maps and supports audit analysis, promoting a proactive safety culture.

The platform is designed for diverse applications, from protecting lone and remote workers to supporting global teams, with flexible integrations for any industry.

By incorporating Ground Control’s reliable satellite connectivity, Locate Global can provide consistent, secure communication even in remote or challenging environments where standard networks fall short.

“We are excited to partner with Ground Control, whose expertise in satellite communications complements our mission of ensuring safety and efficiency in the workplace. This partnership will allow us to provide our users with unparalleled connectivity, enabling them to communicate seamlessly and respond swiftly during emergencies.” – Raphael Polt, Head of Global Partnerships

RockSTAR is a handheld satellite device that provides global messaging and tracking in real time, designed for professionals working in remote or extreme locations.

It utilizes the Iridium satellite network, which is global and extremely reliable; as long as your team members have a view of the sky, they will be able to communicate with your base of operations.

RockSTAR features two-way messaging, an emergency alert button, hyper-accurate GPS tracking, and geofencing capabilities. It can be used instead of a cell phone, or linked via Bluetooth to allow usage of the Locate Global app.

The device is ruggedized for durability, waterproof, and has an extremely long battery life, making it viable for extended outdoor use.

Partnering with Locate Global aligns with our commitment to delivering robust communication solutions for industries where connectivity is paramount. Together, we are enhancing the ability for organizations to manage incidents effectively, ensuring that teams can maintain communication and safety in any environment.

Can we help you?

Our partnership with Locate Global empowers teams to communicate and respond effectively, even in the most remote environments.

If you’d like to know more, please complete the form, or email hello@groundcontrol.com.

As vital as wind energy is in reducing reliance on fossil fuels, it has created unintended challenges for wildlife, particularly bats. A 2021 survey found that 40% of people fear bats, though they play an essential role in pest control and pollination. By consuming insects, bats save U.S. agriculture billions of dollars in natural pest control each year, a service valued between 3.7 and 53 billion dollars. They also help pollinate crops like bananas, mangoes, and agaves (the central ingredient in tequila!), making them critical to both ecosystems and the economy.

Unfortunately, the growing number of wind turbines poses a real risk to bats. Tens, and possibly hundreds of thousands of bats are estimated to die each year due to wind turbines, with tree bats — species that migrate and roost in trees — being the most affected. These bats may confuse the towering structures with trees, bringing them dangerously close to the blades. While turbines can be temporarily slowed down to protect bats, this approach reduces the amount of clean energy produced, costing operators up to 3.5% of their annual output.

A more sustainable solution involves new technology that deters bats using ultrasound. Bats rely on echolocation to navigate, and the ultrasonic deterrent emits sound waves from the turbine that cause bats to alter their flight path, reducing collisions. The system monitors its own health to ensure reliability, and for remote locations, Satellite IoT transmits status data, ensuring operators can maintain its functionality, and demonstrate performance to regulatory authorities if needed.

Early results from this deterrent system show a 50-67% reduction in bat fatalities, with even greater results when combined with low-level curtailment. With continued innovation, wind farms can operate more harmoniously alongside bat populations, reducing wildlife impact while contributing to a greener energy future.

Enjoy our infographic, and please share to spread the word of this incredible innovation!

Infographic showing how technology is protecting bats from wind turbines

Can we help you with a remote IoT challenge?

We are specialists in remote connectivity. We work with several tried and trusted satellite network operators to deliver our customers with reliable, cost-effective solutions for communicating with your remote assets and sensors.

We’ve been doing this for more than 20 years, so if you’d like expert, impartial help with your IoT application, please email hello@groundcontrol.com, or complete the form.

Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have become an integral part of modern military operations. Initially developed for reconnaissance and surveillance, drones have evolved into versatile platforms capable of executing various missions, from intelligence gathering to precision strikes. However, the full potential of UAVs is realized when enhanced with satellite connectivity, removing the limitations of traditional line-of-sight or terrestrial-based communication, and enabling real-time communication and coordination across vast distances and hostile environments.

While satellite connectivity has enhanced UAV capabilities, the utilization of UAVs in warfare is nothing especially new, and has instead, evolved significantly over the past century. Early concepts of UAVs emerged during World War I, with the development of rudimentary unmanned aircraft such as the “Kettering Bug,” – a drone prototype designed purely for bombing missions. However, these early models were not widely operational.

It wasn’t until World War II that UAV technology saw further development, particularly with the creation of the German V-1 flying bomb – essentially an early form of a cruise missile. The Cold War era spurred advancements in UAVs, primarily for reconnaissance purposes and the U.S. developed drones like the Ryan Firebee, which were used for surveillance during the Vietnam War.

The 1990s marked a turning point in UAV usage, particularly during the Gulf War, when drones like the RQ-2 Pioneer provided critical intelligence. Then in the early 2000s, UAVs like the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper – American remotely piloted aircrafts – gained worldwide attention for their role in counterterrorism operations. Powered by global satellite connectivity, these drones could carry out targeted strikes with high precision, far out of the reach of cellular and telecommunication networks. Step forward into 2024, and the role of UAV’s in modern warfare has only continued to advance. Let’s explore some of these key roles in more detail.

Key Roles of UAVs in Modern Warfare

Surveillance and Reconnaissance

Drones are extensively used for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. UAVs have the ability to capture real-time video and image data, which is transmitted back to command centers for analysis, without the need for soldiers to be physically present in hostile or rugged environments. The drones often operate at high altitudes, across multiple geographies.

Precision Strikes

UAVs equipped with precision-guided munitions allow military forces to carry out highly targeted strikes with minimal collateral damage. Their precision has made them instrumental in counter-terrorism operations and eliminating high-value targets while protecting civilian lives. Further, the remote strike action removes the need for ground forces.

Search and Rescue

In post-conflict or disaster scenarios, UAVs can locate survivors and assess damage in areas too dangerous or inaccessible for physical teams. This can prevent further human loss and lead to the identification, location and administration of aid to ground-based defense teams. Drones have also been know to guide troops to safe areas, and away from enemy fire.

Electronic Warfare

UAVs fitted with highly sophisticated sensor systems are designed to gather signals intelligence (SIGINT) by detecting and analyzing enemy radio transmissions, as well as electronic intelligence (ELINT) by monitoring radar emissions. This data can provide comprehensive insights into the structure, capabilities, and operations of enemy networks.

Aid and Supplies

UAVs can be adapted for resupply missions in hard-to-reach areas and have been deployed to help soldiers on the battlefield to receive essential supplies like food, water, and medical equipment. This capability becomes especially crucial in situations where ground convoys may face delays due to hostile terrain, enemy activity, or other logistical challenges.

Satellite Devices Best Suited for Military Drone Applications

Satellite connectivity is a reliable, secure means of communicating with UAVs far beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. These devices are our top picks for command and control, piloting BVLOS, and transmitting real-time video footage from UAVs.

Simple Command and Control with RockBLOCK 9603

Command and control of UAVs requires stable, low-latency communication channels.

RockBLOCK 9603 enables basic two-way communication over the Iridium satellite network, allowing operators to send flight commands or adjust mission parameters approximately once every 40 seconds, regardless of their geographical location.

For example, the RockBLOCK 9603 could send positional data, informing operators of any need to make altitude adjustments or course corrections during a mission. This level of sophisticated satellite-enabled command and control is essential for UAVs operating in areas where ground communication networks are compromised or unavailable.

RockBLOCK 9603 is especially suited to applications where space is at a premium. It’s designed to make adding Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) satellite connectivity super easy.

Piloting Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) with RockREMOTE Mini OEM

One of the most significant challenges in drone warfare is piloting UAVs beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) – a necessity for long-range missions or operations in hostile areas.

Solutions like the RockREMOTE Mini OEM provide satellite-based connectivity designed for such operations involving on the move assets.

The RockREMOTE Mini OEM is lightweight, designed to draw as little power as possible, and harnesses the Iridium Certus 100 satellite network service, delivering virtually real-time IP connectivity.

This technology allows for piloting and navigation adjustments, crucial for UAVs conducting missions deep into enemy territory. Furthermore, satellite-based communication ensures the operator maintains constant control over the UAV’s flight path, even when thousands of kilometers away.

RockREMOTE-MIni-OEM-with-end-cap-transparent-background

Capturing Real-Time Video Footage with RockREMOTE Rugged

Arguably, one of the most critical functions of UAVs in modern warfare is real-time video reconnaissance.

RockREMOTE Rugged coupled with Videosoft video compression technology facilitates the transmission of high-definition video feeds from drones to ground stations, enabling military forces to monitor enemy activities and gather intelligence without delay. This helps military operators to respond to threats or gather information promptly, enhancing battlefield awareness and operational decision-making.

The RockREMOTE Rugged does not require antenna-pointing and even with a poor or changing view of the sky, the RockREMOTE Rugged can reliably and securely transfer data in close to real time via the Iridium satellite network.

Selecting the Right Satellite-Enabled Solution

	RockBLOCK 9603	RockREMOTE Mini OEM	RockREMOTE Rugged
Size	45 x 45 x 15 mm	175 x 60 x 37 mm	250 x 97 x 61 mm
Weight	36 g	287 g	1.2 kg
Power	Max 450mA	<30mW (sleep), <0.25W (idle), <7.5W (average transmit)	0W (sleep), 5W (idle), 9W (average transmit)
Satellite Service	Iridium Short Burst Data (340 bytes ↑ 270 bytes ↓ per message)	Iridium Certus 100 (22/88 Kbps) + IMT (100 kB per message)	Iridium Certus 100 (22/88 Kbps) + IMT (100 kB per message)
Interfaces	Molex PicoBlade 1.25mm pitch	Ethernet (available on pin out), Serial RS232, RS485, GPIO (2xI, 2xO)	Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Serial RS232, RS485
Antenna	Built in 1621 Mhz tuned patch antenna (or use optional SMA connector for external antenna)	External - various approved options	External - various approved options
Hosted Applications		Limited	Full
Ideal For:	Simple Commands / Failover Comms	Piloting BVLOS; Sending Compressed Images	Transmitting Real-Time Video Footage
	View Product	View Product	View Product

How IoT Satellite Connectivity Enhances UAV Capabilities

Enhanced Data Security

Satellite communication provides an additional layer of security for data transmission, which is fundamental for the defense sector. Satellite IoT can offer secure and encrypted communication channels that are less susceptible to cyber-attacks when compared to traditional terrestrial network options.

Reduces Risk to Life

When UAVs are remotely controlled and operated via satellite connectivity, missions can be conducted from secure, distant locations. This distance achieved by satellite coverage greatly minimizes the risk to human pilots and further reduces the need for ground troops to be present in high-risk zones.

Global Coverage

In many warfare scenarios, terrestrial infrastructure could be unstable, inaccessible or entirely absent. Satellite delivers reliable, continuous connectivity. This up-time reliability is essential when real-time data is needed for operational success, especially in critical warfare scenarios.

Scalability and Flexibility

Satellite IoT connectivity provides the ability to track and monitor multiple UAVs simultaneously without worrying about network congestion. In conflict zones when real-time communication is most critical, this ensures operators can adapt to varying mission requirements quickly and effectively.

The Future of Drones in Warfare

Enhanced mission control, achieving reliable global communication and minimizing risk to life via utilization of UAVs has already been well-demonstrated in modern warfare. Satellite connectivity-enabled drones have proven effective in conducting successful reconnaissance, military strikes and humanitarian aid missions worldwide.

The future deployment of UAVs in military operations only looks to increase with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), swarming technology, and autonomous decision-making being key growth drivers. For instance, satellite-connected AI-powered drones, capable of identifying targets autonomously, making decisions in combat scenarios, and communicating with other drones, is already under development. It is also expected that the concept of drone swarms—where multiple UAVs work together to accomplish a mission—will likely play a significant role in future conflicts. All of these technological advances will require the reach and reliability of remote satellite connectivity to execute on a global scale.

In time, UAVs will also become more integrated with manned aircraft and other unmanned systems, creating a cohesive and very versatile military force. Whether it’s simple command and control, piloting BVLOS, or gathering real-time video for reconnaissance, the fusion of UAVs with satellite IoT is unlocking new possibilities for military operations globally, while minimizing the risk of collateral damage.

Can we help?

It’s an exciting time to be working on a remote IoT application, but with the greater volume of choice comes more uncertainty about the right service provider and networking technology for you.

We can help. We work with multiple satellite network operators with both standards-based and proprietary technology, and will provide you with unbiased, expert advice.

Complete the form or email hello@groundcontrol.com and we’ll get back to you within one working day.

Recently, the Swarm satellite constellation notified customers that, as of the end of 2024, they would no longer be able to utilize their service to communicate with their remote IoT sensors.

Swarm, purchased by Space X in 2021, is being sunsetted in favor of their new Direct to Cell (D2C) technology that Starlink – Space X’s satellite service provider brand – aims to bring to market in 2025.

But Starlink’s D2C technology isn’t a like-for-like replacement of the Swarm service. Swarm is/was (depending on when you read this!) a proprietary message-based service; you could send 192 bytes of data per message. It was designed for remote IoT deployments with power constraints – Swarm modems could be powered by a small battery or solar.

It also lent itself to applications where real-time communication was not required; as this blog post from 2022 illustrates, the average ‘round trip’ time for Swarm data delivery was 39 minutes and 44 seconds. Plus, Swarm utilized unlicensed terrestrial spectrum; this made it very low cost, but with the potential to have lower reliability in high-traffic areas.

Starlink’s D2C technology is an entirely different proposition. Firstly, it uses the LTE Cat-4, Cat-1, and Cat-1bis standards rather than proprietary technology. This delivers higher data rates and lower latency (the ‘round trip’ time) but has a greater power draw – not really suited to battery or solar-powered applications.

So, while Starlink are recommending to Swarm’s customers that they move to their D2C service once available – and this may well be a good choice – we thought it presented an opportunity to present additional options that may be a better fit for your application.

This is usually quite a nuanced conversation, and due to the blog post format, by necessity we’re making some simplifications. It’s always worth giving our team a call to get individualized, expert advice.

There are four key considerations: location, data rates, latency, and power.

1. Location

Starlink’s D2C service will initially be available in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, Chile and Peru (source). So, if your IoT application is not in one of these countries, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

For 100% global coverage, including the polar regions, have a look at Iridium which has the only truly global IoT network in operation. If your project is not in the far North or South of the globe, Viasat (pictured) is a great choice. Globalstar has great coverage over North and South America, China and most of Africa and Europe.

2. Data Rates

Here we’re not just considering how much data you need to send, but how you need to send it. The most efficient way to communicate with satellites is to use a message-based service, which is what Swarm offered. It’s cost-effective and uses very little power. However, it does generally require some engineering work on your part to manipulate your sensor data into this format.

If you have the ability to do this, check out the following services:

Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT), which allows you to send and receive 100,000 byte messages
Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD), which allows you to send a modest 340 bytes, and receive 270 bytes; constrained, but competitively priced
Viasat’s IoT Nano (previously called IsatData Pro), which allows you to send 6,400 byte messages, and receive 10,000 byte messages.

If you have a chatty application, and need to use IP data delivery, Starlink D2C is worth investigating (if/when available in your country / area of operation). Iridium Certus 100 is IP-based (22/88 Kbps), as is Viasat’s IoT Pro (formerly BGAN M2M). Because using IP data delivery is less efficient, it is often more expensive and power-hungry, so also explore whether your satellite IoT device supports edge computing, as this can help throttle back on airtime costs.

3. Latency

Latency refers to the length of time it takes for the data to leave the satellite IoT device, reach the satellite, come back down to the ground station, and be delivered to your server. One of the factors influencing this is the satellite orbit height; satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) have a lower latency than satellites in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).

Latency for different satellite orbit heights diagram

That said, just because a satellite network is in LEO does not mean it will be quick to send and receive data, because the other factor is how frequently a satellite passes overhead. If your satellite network only has a handful of satellites in operation, it may be several hours, even a day, before your data is successfully transmitted. Swarm, despite having approximately 175 satellites in operation before it was disbanded, had big coverage gaps, which led to it having an average message delivery time of 39 minutes and 44 seconds.

This may not matter for your application. If you can manage taking receipt of your data a few times a day rather than in close to real-time, there are several new satellite networks that are worth investigating – among them Sateliot and OQ Technologies.

If you have a latency-sensitive application, an established satellite network in LEO is likely your best bet; Iridium or Starlink’s D2C service, for example. You could also experiment with changing timeout values on network requests to allow for higher latencies, caching more data, or using overlapping network requests and responses where possible (source). SD-WAN solutions can also be deployed to create hierarchical classes of service, and for TCP optimization (if TCP/IP is the preferred means of data delivery). This could unlock the GEO networks, such as Viasat, which are often more cost-effective than their LEO counterparts.

4. Power

Satellite connectivity is generally only the primary means of communication if there’s no cellular infrastructure in place – .e.g. oceans, deserts, mountains, forests and farmlands. Sensors deployed in these locations often also lack mains power, and are not easy to access.

For example: data buoys; hydrology stations; environmental monitoring; livestock monitoring; wind and solar farms and oil and gas pipelines.

In these instances, you need to look for solutions optimized for low power. Right now, that most likely means a message-based service using Iridium (IMT or SBD), Viasat (IoT Nano) or Globalstar’s satellite networks. In the next few years, Viasat and Iridium will start to offer standards-based solutions which will likely be lower cost, while still requiring very little power to operate. The great news is that proprietary technologies have started to come down in price in response to the advent of standards, so there’s no need to put your project on hold!

If your application has a power source – trucks, trains and heavy machinery, for example, or a remote outpost that has multiple solar panels – then you should take a look at Starlink’s D2C service, as it is expected to be competitively priced while moving (by IoT standards!) high volumes of data.

How to Choose

Choosing the best satellite network for your IoT application requires careful consideration of factors like location, data rates, latency, and power requirements. While Starlink’s D2C technology offers impressive data speeds and low latency, it may not be the ideal solution for all IoT deployments, especially those constrained by power or located outside the initial coverage areas.

Alternatives like Iridium, Viasat, and Globalstar provide various options, from message-based services ideal for low-power environments to IP-based solutions for higher data throughput. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your specific needs, and consulting with an expert can help ensure you pick the best network for your application.

Speak to an Expert

At Ground Control we’ve been solving remote connectivity challenges for over 20 years. We design and build our own hardware, and work with multiple satellite network operators and standards to ensure our customers get the right solution for their specific needs.

If you have an IoT or tracking application that’ll travel beyond cellular coverage, we’re happy to provide objective, expert advice. Email hello@groundcontrol.com or complete the form, and we’ll be in touch within one working day.

Developing Video Capability

In today’s interconnected world, the ability to monitor and manage assets remotely has become not just a convenience but a necessity. From sprawling agricultural fields and remote unmanned industrial sites, to vast stretches of pipeline and border control areas, the challenges of ensuring security, efficiency, and productivity in remote, often environmentally challenging locations, are ever-present.

Integrating advanced video surveillance technologies with satellite connectivity is revolutionizing how industries approach these challenges. Ground Control’s recent partnership with Videosoft exemplifies this transformation, bringing real-time, low-bandwidth video streaming over satellite to the forefront of remote off-grid operations.

This article delves into the transformative impact of satellite-enabled video surveillance across three critical applications: preventing remote solar panel theft and protecting parked vehicles like quadbikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and heavy vehicles; leveraging aerial video footage over satellite for agricultural and forestry monitoring; and enhancing remote border control operations.

1. Safeguarding Remote Assets

Solar panels are increasingly being deployed in remote, often unmonitored locations as renewable energy installations proliferate. PV installations for solar farms and solar as a power source in remote industries present an increasing global opportunity for crime.

The attractiveness of solar panels to thieves is primarily because of their high value and the perceived ease of theft, especially from remote, poorly secured installations. Europe reports over 5,000 major solar thefts annually, with southern Italy experiencing rates ten times the European average. The problem is global; in Nigeria and South Africa, solar panel theft is stifling renewable energy growth.

Similarly, in industries like mining, agriculture, and construction, frequently stationed valuable vehicles and equipment, such as ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) or heavy vehicles, in isolated areas are at risk. These assets are prime targets for theft and vandalism due to their high value and minimal on-site security. The UK agricultural sector alone saw an estimated £49.5 million in stolen equipment in 2023.

There are known illicit global markets for farming and technology equipment, where criminals can sell their stolen wares for much higher prices. This specific type of theft has been triggered by soaring values, particularly in relation to metals and machinery and the low supply of farm machinery worldwide.

The Problem With Off-Grid Locations

While traditional camera surveillance methods provide a deterrent to criminal activity, they often rely on cellular networks which may not be available in remote locations. The network gap leaves off-grid assets vulnerable, with limited options to monitor and protect investments effectively and cost efficiently.

The Solution: Video Compression Over Satellite

Integrating Videosoft’s high-compression, low-latency, off-grid video streaming technology into Ground Control’s RockREMOTE Rugged device offers a robust solution. This facilitates real-time video surveillance over the Iridium satellite network, ensuring continuous monitoring even when there is zero cellular network availability.

Deploying a remote video monitoring strategy means action can be taken before a crime occurs. Video compression ensures quality image capture, and with RockREMOTE’s powerful edge computing capabilities, multiple sensor connection options, and real-time connectivity, it can detect certain events, like a person loitering after hours or jumping a fence. Follow-on actions can be automated or taken remotely, server-side, to deter a potential criminal’s next steps. By activating specific deterrents, like recorded announcements, alarms, and flashing lights, asset protection management can respond from anywhere in real-time to prevent a potential crime.

The cost-effectiveness of this solution lies in its data efficiency. By compressing video at the edge, data transmission costs are minimized without compromising the quality of the recording, making high-quality real-time surveillance financially viable over the Iridium satellite link.

2. Revolutionizing Forestry Monitoring

Agriculture, environmental and forestry monitoring can often span vast, remote areas, making it challenging to monitor crop health, forest conditions, or illegal logging. Drones have emerged as a powerful tool for aerial surveillance, but their reliance on local storage or cellular networks for data transmission limits their efficacy in remote regions.

Drones are also restricted in the altitude at which they can fly, limiting their coverage for each flight. They are ideal for short-range, lower-altitude video capture, but they have range and battery life constraints, and many do not offer the zoom options available from an aircraft. Aircraft can transmit video over much longer distances and cover vast areas unaffected by obstacles in the terrain.

However, sending video in real-time over satellite has been expensive, often reserved for emergency services and search and rescue operations. Yet, the need for accurate imagery, delivered cost effectively, in real-time, is increasingly critical in remote land surveillance and monitoring.

The Problem of Deforestation

In North America, illegal logging costs over $1 billion annually, with the U.S. Forest Service estimating $100 million in losses from public lands alone. Romania faces similar challenges, losing valuable primeval forests to illegal logging. New technology to combat these types of losses can’t come quick enough. A new report says deforestation globally increased by 4% in 2022 compared with 2021, with the loss of over 6.6 million hectares of forest. Although there was a decrease of 18% in tropical Asian countries, the world is now 21% off track to eliminate deforestation by 2030.

The Solution: Aerial Video Recording Operations

The encouraging part of Ground Control’s collaboration with Videosoft is that aircraft equipped with cameras to stream live footage can drive real-time insight while keeping aerial transmission costs down. RockREMOTE Rugged, combined with Videosoft’s compression technology, ensures efficient transmission of high-definition video over the Iridium Certus IP connection. Operators can remotely adjust camera focus, zoom, and capture high-resolution video for detailed analysis in real time, whether from the plane or the ground. Access to live feeds enables instant assessment, issue identification, and monitoring, facilitating real-time responses.

The RockREMOTE’s LTE failover feature switches between cellular and satellite networks as needed, maintaining the efficient video transfer and minimizing data costs. With aerial video over satellite, monitoring for illegal logging or assessing the health of farmland or forest canopy becomes significantly more manageable.

3. Enhanced Border Security

Border regions, especially those spanning vast and inhospitable terrains, pose significant challenges for security agencies. Monitoring these areas to prevent illegal crossings, trafficking, or other illicit activities is difficult, mainly due to the hostile terrain, remoteness, and sheer expanse. Traditional surveillance infrastructure is often impractical due to the need for cellular connectivity or the high costs of establishing and maintaining such systems.

Many factors influence the off-grid solution: the degree of threat posed by unsanctioned activity, the conditions for monitoring equipment and transportation, the ruggedness of the terrain, local data and available power supply.

RockREMOTE Rugged with Videosoft illustration

The Solution: Satellite-Enabled Surveillance

From RF spectrum monitoring, to Thermal imaging, RockREMOTE Rugged’s broad range of connection interfaces and containerized edge computing capability enable it to operate with other key security sensors, cameras and applications. The system supports simultaneous live streaming from multiple cameras, providing comprehensive border coverage.

Further, RockREMOTE Rugged’s antenna is omni-directional, with no pointing required; ideal for fixed deployment in hilly or woody locations, or for on-the-move applications. It will also connect from a mobile surveillance unit.

Beyond Surveillance: The Broader Implications

The applications discussed represent a fraction of the potential unlocked by integrating advanced video compression technology with satellite connectivity. From conservation efforts and monitoring endangered species, to reducing remote off-grid crime, the possibilities are vast. Whether it’s safeguarding remote solar installations, leveraging aerial surveillance to protect forests, or enhancing the security of national borders, the ability to transmit real-time, high-quality video over satellite networks is a game-changer. As industries continue to operate in increasingly remote and challenging environments, such innovations are not just advantageous—they are essential.

Would you like to know more?

With over 20 years of satellite experience, the Ground Control team is well placed to help you keep an eye on the things that matter most.

Whatever your remote surveillance needs, we can help. Complete the form to be connected to one of our team to discover more about the innovative video software, RockREMOTE Rugged and how our solutions can support your project.

Viasat has officially launched a redefined and expanded product portfolio following its recent acquisition of Inmarsat. The new lineup is designed to simplify their satellite IoT and asset tracking solutions, combining the technical expertise and global reach of both companies. With the consolidation of services, Viasat aims to deliver a more integrated, customer-centric suite of solutions for businesses in industries ranging from logistics to energy, all while streamlining its product range.

What’s New in Viasat’s Product Portfolio?

With the reimagined suite of services, Viasat has focused on making it easier for companies to navigate their satellite communication needs. The new portfolio has been carefully organized around key industry applications, including satellite IoT, asset tracking, remote surveillance, and mission-critical communications.

By simplifying its offerings, Viasat allows businesses to quickly identify the right solution, whether it’s for fleet management, environmental monitoring, or operations in remote, hard-to-reach areas. While the shift may feel like a departure from Inmarsat’s familiar product names, the rebrand is geared toward enhancing the user experience with more clarity and convenience.

Key Changes to Viasat’s Product Series

Viasat’s rebranded product suite is built with a focus on usability and modern industry demands. Here’s a look at the most significant changes:

IsatData Pro (IDP) → IoT Nano

Connection Type: Message-based
Transmit: 6400 bytes, Receive: 10,000 bytes

Previously a flagship service under Inmarsat, IsatData Pro has been rebranded as IoT Nano. This solution offers low-power, long-life monitoring for remote assets, particularly useful in industrial IoT, fleet tracking, and environmental monitoring sectors. IoT Nano is optimized for minimal data transmission and is ideal for applications that require reliable connectivity in areas with limited infrastructure.

BGAN M2M → IoT Pro

Connection Type: IP-based
Transmit: 448Kbps Receive: 464 Kbps

BGAN M2M, known for delivering high-reliability machine-to-machine (M2M) or direct-to-device (D2D) communications via satellite, is now known as IoT Pro. This rebranded service provides businesses in industries such as oil and gas, utilities, and transportation with uninterrupted connectivity, even in the most extreme conditions. IoT Pro is perfect for enabling critical data flows between remote devices and centralized systems.

BGAN → Go-anywhere Pro

Connection Type: IP-based
Transmit: 492Kbps up and down (Standard), 800Kbps for video

The Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), a trusted service for providing high-speed broadband from virtually any location on Earth, is now renamed Go-anywhere Pro. This solution is tailored for mobile teams, emergency response units, and industries requiring reliable internet connectivity in areas lacking terrestrial networks. Whether you’re in a disaster zone, on an offshore platform, or in remote wilderness, Go-anywhere Pro ensures you’re always connected.

What Does This Mean for Existing Customers?

These changes reflect Viasat’s commitment to delivering a more intuitive and cohesive satellite communication experience. By integrating Inmarsat’s renowned services with Viasat’s cutting-edge technologies, the company provides more powerful, streamlined solutions to meet the needs of various industries.

For businesses currently using Inmarsat services, the transition will be smooth and seamless. Existing services will automatically migrate to the new Viasat-branded solutions without service interruptions, ensuring that all operations remain unaffected.

Ground Control: Your Trusted Partner in Satellite Communications

As an Inmarsat/Viasat Elevate Partner with over 20 years of experience, Ground Control is uniquely positioned to offer customers the best in satellite communication solutions. We provide unmatched flexibility and access to the most competitive rates for airtime and service plans.

Get in touch

Whether you’re managing a fleet, monitoring assets in remote locations, or supporting a critical communications mission, Ground Control can help you find the right package of airtime to suit your unique requirements.

Get in touch to discuss how we can support your satellite communication needs and find the right airtime package for your project.

Even in the age of eSIM technology, there remain challenges in tracking road, rail and ocean freight across borders. This post focuses on a key challenge: connectivity. Less than 40 percent of the Earth’s land surface is covered by mobile networks. This figure drops to just 12 percent when oceans are taken into account. So, assets moving out of cellular coverage have had two options: accept gaps in tracking, or utilize satellite connectivity.

The former isn’t an appealing option; freight is vulnerable to theft, adverse weather conditions, damaged infrastructure (roads, bridges etc.), breakdowns etc., all of which can be mitigated, or at least dealt with rapidly, if real-time, global monitoring is available.

The latter – satellite connectivity – has been a mainstay of high value freight for many years, but the relatively high cost of satellite tracking devices, plus airtime, has meant that some organizations with extensive asset inventories or limited budgets haven’t been able to take advantage of the technology.

3GPP standards are poised to lower the cost barrier to satellite connectivity, both directly and indirectly, unlocking truly global asset tracking capabilities to the benefit of logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and many other industries.

3GPP’s Impact on Connectivity

3GPP is an initiative to create global standards for telecommunications, ensuring that a device developed and operated in North America would be able to connect to networks in Asia, Europe, Africa etc. As the name suggests, its original mission was to develop specifications for 3G mobile phones, but it has since created the specifications for 4G and 5G, with 6G in development.

Each revised version of the standards has a release number, and Release 17 was the first to accommodate non-terrestrial networks, or NTN. It was completed quite recently – Q3 2022 – and it will take time before devices utilizing this standard start hitting the market in volume.

What this means in this context is that a tracking device could use a single SIM to talk to both terrestrial and satellite constellations. There are several benefits from this:

There are millions more ‘terrestrial’ tracking devices than there are satellite-enabled ones, and because of these economies of scale, they’re generally much lower cost. If these devices are made with the ability to connect to both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, these same economies of scale will persist, and the cost of a satellite-enabled tracker will be lower.

Satellite networks haven’t really, until the advent of 3GPP, had to compete with one another, in the respect that if you want to use satellite connectivity, you need to buy a proprietary modem that communicates with a single satellite network only. Once it’s in place, if you want to change the network, you would physically need to change the modem. But if you have a standards-based SIM, in theory, you can switch your airtime to a different satellite constellation remotely, with the likely impact being that airtime costs will be more competitively priced.

Data analysis should be simpler; if your tracker is using the same networking language across multiple networks, for example, NB-IoT or LTE Cat-1, the ease with which you can integrate that data with your existing ERP, CRM or inventory management system is greatly enhanced.

Challenges With Implementing 3GPP

There are two ways to enable satellites to ‘speak’ the same language as terrestrial networks. The first is to modify the satellite, and the second is to modify the terrestrial device.

There is a limit to how much modification can be done to satellites that are already in orbit – some as far away as 35,786 kilometers from Earth. So the first option is currently the preserve of companies launching new satellite constellations. The key players here are Starlink, AST SpaceMobile, and Lynk. They are all in the process of launching satellites that are compatible with unmodified LTE-compatible devices. Their largest market is going to be cellphone users, but they’re all anticipating offering an IoT variation; Starlink is likely to be the first to market with this, some time in 2025.

However, they have a key challenge which restricts the global accessibility of these services; they don’t have access to the radio frequencies best suited to IoT and tracking applications. Licensed radio spectrum has been allocated for many years; for satellite network operators it’s called MSS (Mobile Satellite Service) spectrum, and for terrestrial network operators, it’s called MNO spectrum.

In the absence of licensed spectrum, the new satellite network operators have to collaborate with terrestrial network operators to use their spare spectrum. Starlink has agreements with T-Mobile to provide service to the USA, for example, whereas AST SpaceMobile has agreements with AT&T and Verizon. But if your truck or train traveled into Mexico, where Starlink does not, at the time of writing, have an MNO partner, the service would no longer be available.

Given that not all MNOs have spare spectrum – consider Europe and parts of Asia, where networks are already congested – it is unlikely that global service will be available in the next few years.

The second way to implement 3GPP is to update the terrestrial devices that talk to the satellites, and this is the preferred option of the legacy satellite network operators (SNOs). Viasat (previously Inmarsat) and Iridium are the leading SNOs exploring this; they have the advantage of having licensed spectrum, so their services will be globally available from launch.

But, and there’s a big ‘but’ here, they are looking at NB-IoT as their networking language rather than LTE, most probably because it is better suited to existing satellites which weren’t designed for high volumes of high bandwidth traffic. There are far fewer IoT and tracking devices that utilize NB-IoT than there are LTE-enabled devices, so it will take time for the device manufacturers to catch up.

Further, because not all of the satellite network operators have adopted the same networking language, a future in which you can negotiate on price with your SNO because there are several competitors vying for your business is further away.

However, having options to patch the gaps in cellular coverage, particularly as operators are turning off 2G, is a clear positive. If your device has a limited power source – solar or battery – LTE Cat-1 may well not be suitable. So a global in-fill of NTN NB-IoT – which is ideal for low power devices – overcomes the challenge of restricted roaming, and patchy terrestrial LTE-M and NB-IoT.

Diagram showing 3GPP standards-enabled IoT devices

Where Does Direct-to-Device Come Into Play?

This is sometimes confused / used interchangeably with 3GPP standards-based communication, but it’s not the same thing. D2D refers to the ability for an unmodified terrestrial device to speak to a satellite, but it doesn’t have to be communicating using a standards-based language like LTE or NB-IoT.

The most well-known example of a non-standards-based D2D solution is Globalstar’s collaboration with Apple; Apple updated its handsets to speak to the Globalstar constellation, but they can’t ‘roam’ on to other satellite networks; it’s a proprietary, rather than a standards-based, solution.

Speaking of Proprietary Solutions…

It’s important to stress that proprietary-enabled tracking devices – such as those that use Iridium, Viasat or Globalstar for connectivity – are far from ‘over’. For a start, they already use the most efficient means of communication with satellites, because the devices were designed in conjunction with the satellites. They can send more data, and offer greater flexibility in terms of how that data is transmitted (i.e. IP-based, messages etc.), than standards-based propositions.

Because the narrative around 3GPP standards is chiefly around lower costs, this has already had an impact on satellite connectivity. For the first time, SNOs are enabling their proprietary modems to be incorporated into mass-produced chipsets. This will, through simple economies of scale, lead to a lower price for proprietary modems, making this an increasingly viable option for tracking trucks, trains, ships etc.

As an example, the incredibly small and light, solar-powered and satellite-enabled GSatSolar asset tracking device retails at just $199, with airtime costing <$5 per month (depending on the number of locations you want transmitting).

What Should You Consider for Your Asset Tracking Application?

Firstly, while standards-based devices promise much in the way of cost-savings and ease of implementation, it will be several years before this promise is realized. Mass deployment of devices and adequate supplier competition to influence airtime pricing is unlikely to happen before 2026-27. Further, it’s not clear how the new satellite constellations will overcome their spectrum challenges; although, where there’s a will, there’s usually a way!

In the short to medium-term, the good news is that existing proprietary satellite tracking solutions have, and continue to, come down in price. Our recommendation is to place inquiries and find out what the art of the possible is for your application.

Can we help you with your asset tracking project?

As a company that’s designed and built asset tracking solutions for over 20 years, Ground Control is well placed to help you navigate the dizzying array of options; get in touch – we’re here to help.

Complete the form, or email hello@groundcontrol.com, and we’ll come back to you within one working day.

The Internet of Things (IoT) market is set to grow globally by 18.8% over the next five years, fueled by advancements in 5G and AI technologies, rising demand for automation, and the expanding application of IoT across various industries.

For IoT applications in remote areas beyond the reach of 5G cellular towers, such as environmental monitoring and asset tracking in isolated regions, mountainous terrains, open oceans, and across multiple borders, continuous connectivity remains a challenge. In these scenarios, businesses often turn to satellite IoT, but the perceived high cost and apparent lack of interoperability with terrestrial networking technology may present barriers.

Direct-to-Device (D2D) technology is emerging as a transformative solution to these challenges, poised to revolutionize the IoT marketplace. But before we get to that, let’s clarify what’s meant by the various “direct-to-cell, direct-to-device, direct-to-mobile” terms being bandied about.

Direct to Device Diagram

What is Direct-to-Cell?

Direct-to-Cell (D2C) is a form of satellite connectivity that enables smartphone users to perform basic functions like texting, calling and basic internet browsing when outside of cellular coverage, with no modifications needed to their cell phone.

This service can be provided in one of two ways: firstly, the satellite network operator (SNO) may partner with a mobile network operator (MNO), and provide the service using the MNO’s licensed terrestrial radio frequencies. In order to do this, both the SNO and the MNO need to use the same waveform technology, e.g. 4G/LTE. This requires the satellites to be designed and deployed with this capability; effectively, it is the satellite that is modified to work with the device, rather than the device being modified to work with the satellite. An example of this is Starlink’s partnership with T-Mobile in the USA.

Secondly, cell phone manufacturers can update their devices to allow them to talk to satellite constellations. This can either be delivered through proprietary solutions – i.e. the handset is updated to allow it to ‘talk’ to a single satellite constellation only (for example, Globalstar’s partnership with Apple) – or via a standards-based solution which can talk to multiple compatible networks, i.e. 5G NTN (NR, NB-IoT, eMTC).

In the case of the latter – where the necessary adjustments are made on the cell phone rather than the satellite – there are a limited number of smartphones that have been made compatible with 5G NTN, including the Google Pixel 9; we’d expect to see this increase in the future.

Diagram showing the three types of D2D Connectivity

Image credit: Peter Kibutu, Advanced 5G NTN Technology Lead, TTP

What is Direct-to-Device?

Direct-to-Device (D2D) enables unmodified IoT devices, such as asset tracking beacons and temperature sensors, to transmit data over satellite when cellular is not available. This means that no extra hardware or software is needed to deploy a sensor outside of cellular coverage, or to monitor an asset moving in and out of cellular connectivity.

The difference between Direct-to-Cell and Direct-to-Device is simply the device being connected; in the case of the former it refers to cell phones; in the case of the latter, to IoT devices. They are often used interchangeably – Starlink, for example, refers to both phone and IoT device connectivity as Direct to Cell, whereas analysts Deloitte refer to both as Direct to Device.

For the purposes of this post, we’ll be focusing on IoT applications, and will stick to ‘Direct to Device’.

How Does D2D Work?

Similarly to D2C, there are two ways to deliver D2D. The first is to launch new satellites specifically designed to talk to existing IoT devices, and the second is to add an inexpensive chip to IoT devices so that they can talk to existing satellite networks. This could either be a proprietary chip, which allows the device to speak to a single satellite network, or a standards-based chip, which, in theory, would allow the device to roam on to any network built to the same standards.

There are pros and cons to each approach; in the case of purpose-built satellites, the main plus is that there is a large market of existing devices. However, as we will see, there are performance, spectrum, funding and regulatory challenges to overcome. In the case of new chipsets, whether standards-based or proprietary, it will take time for these to be developed and deployed at scale.

“What technical approach will predominate—one where chipsets in smartphones power satellite communication or where satellites act more as space-based cell towers enabled by network-on-the-edge architecture? In either case, advancement in both satellite and smartphone technology will likely be necessary to enable the full potential of D2D.” – Deloitte Center for Technology, Media & Telecommunications

What Role do Standards-Based Technologies Have to Play in D2D?

There are three cellular-based technologies designed for widespread IoT devices: NB-IoT, LTE-M, and LTE Cat 1. There are lots of blog posts dedicated to the pros and cons of each technology; as a very quick summary, NB-IoT and LTE-M use less power than LTE Cat 1, but LTE Cat 1 has higher data rates and lower latency.

Capabilities of Cellular Technologies for Supporting IoT Applications - Table

LTE Cat 1 is available wherever there is a 4G LTE network; which covers most of the Earth’s population centers. LTE-M and NB-IoT network technologies are less widely available; 253 mobile network operators have launched NB-IoT or LTE-M networks in 81 countries, of which 173 operators have focused on NB-IoT, and 80 have focused on LTE-M (source).

The satellite network operators working on the delivery of D2D have not all chosen the same cellular technology. Starlink, AST Space Mobile and Lynk have all selected LTE Cat 1, whereas Iridium and Viasat have chosen NB-IoT.

This is probably because the more power-hungry LTE Cat 1 technology would create too great a resource drain on legacy satellite constellations which were not built for high volumes of high speed internet traffic. Equally, where there is no cellular infrastructure, there is often no power source, so an NB-IoT device that can last for years on a single battery is an appealing proposition.

Ultimately, systems integrators will need to make an informed decision about the most suitable technology for their requirements, based on service availability, data volume, latency, and power supply; this will then determine on to which networks their devices can roam.

Who are the Satellite Operators in the Direct-to-Device Market?

LTE Services:

As a major disruptor, Starlink is poised to play a significant role in the D2D market. With the capability to build and launch its own satellites via SpaceX, Starlink has already deployed over 100 D2D satellites and plans to launch over 7,500 more. This will support their goal of providing high-speed, low-latency global connectivity for both mobile and IoT technologies.

AST SpaceMobile is making strides with plans to launch its first five commercial satellites in Autumn 2024. AST SpaceMobile has established agreements with over 40 mobile network operators. Backed by strategic investments from giants like Google, AT&T, Vodafone, and Verizon, AST has the potential to be a significant player in the D2D market.

Lynk has already launched satellites and secured relationships with mobile network operators in over 50 countries. Like Starlink and AST SpaceMobile, Lynk uses LTE standards to deliver 5G space-based connectivity directly to existing smartphones.

NTN NB-IoT Services:

Viasat, which now combines Viasat and Inmarsat satellites under the same brand, has satellites in geostationary orbit; 37,785 Km above the Earth. This means that the latency - the time taken for a data packet to be sent, received, and sent back to the ground station - is longer than satellites in Low Earth Orbit.

On the other hand, NTN NB-IoT is well suited to devices that are stationary, and send data several times a day, rather than needing a real-time connection. Viasat’s satellites have good capacity and fewer power limitations than satellites in LEO, so this is a company well placed to deliver on NTN NB-IoT in the near future.

Iridium’s Project Stardust signals their intention to move away from solely proprietary satellite IoT solutions towards standards-based solutions. Iridium aims to enhance its D2D strategy by leveraging its established low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network for 5G standards-based IoT and NTN services. Iridium aims to collaborate with OEMs and MNOs to integrate satellite capabilities into IoT devices.

Challenges in Rolling out Direct-to-Device

Radio Spectrum Allocation. Long-standing satellite network operators like Viasat and Iridium have licensed L-band spectrum which is ideal for IoT applications; it doesn’t require a large antenna, and is resistant to rain-fade. They can choose to allocate some of this spectrum to enable D2D.

New satellite network operators like Starlink, AST SpaceMobile and Lynk, however, need to forge partnerships with mobile network operators – T-Mobile, Verizon, Telefónica etc. – so that some of their licensed spectrum can be allocated to satellite connectivity.

This means that, for these SNOs, D2D service is only available where partnerships exist. Starlink, for example, has agreements with T-Mobile for the USA, Optus for Australia, Rogers for Canada, and several more; but is very far away from having global coverage.

There also needs to be ‘spare’ MNO spectrum available for use. In larger land masses with dispersed populations like Australia and Canada (respectively, the 6th and 9th least densely populated countries on Earth), this doesn’t present a huge issue. But consider parts of Europe or Asia; the new SNOs will have a much greater challenge gaining partnerships in densely populated countries.

Performance. As briefly mentioned earlier, the “legacy” satellite constellations of Viasat and Iridium weren’t conceived with high volumes of high speed traffic in mind. Hence the choice of NB-IoT as the networking technology, as NB-IoT’s waveform can be transmitted efficiently via satellites, with far less power required than LTE Cat 1bis – both on the device side and on the satellites themselves.

This doesn’t mean that Starlink, AST SpaceMobile etc. have a free-for-all in terms of capacity. Starlink coverage over the USA, for example, is, according to Elon Musk, anticipated to be 7 MB per beam (and the beams are very large). All users – both IoT devices and cell phone users – share that capacity, so congestion and bandwidth limitations are possibilities.

Regulatory. This is a challenge for the new satellite constellations, leveraging MNO spectrum. As Device-to-Device (D2D) communication extends beyond national borders, it poses significant challenges to existing regulatory frameworks and spectrum management practices. Since D2D users can operate in remote regions where traditional mobile networks don’t reach, their activity may span across countries. This makes it essential for neighboring nations to collaborate closely on spectrum management.

Additionally, roaming regulations, licensing, and authorizations may need to adapt, as D2D service providers are no longer confined to one country. This could lead to the development of regional or international licensing systems and potentially even an international regulatory body (source).

Funding. Companies taking the route of launching satellites compatible with terrestrial waveform technologies have a huge CapEx challenge; in order to provide service, they need to launch many satellites, at no small expense, and then bank on subscribers turning up in their tens of thousands in order to recoup their costs.

The business case for D2D purely in the context of IoT is that these new constellations will be able to communicate with unmodified cellular IoT devices – which are far lower cost than current satellite IoT devices – thus unlocking a new, lower price point for hardware. But lower costs means more subscribers need to be found before the SNO is profitable.

Existing satellite IoT applications are often mission-critical and need sureties of data delivery and speeds that D2D may not be able to deliver; thus D2D isn’t likely to dramatically cannibalize the existing satellite IoT market. New use cases need to be found, and use cases with thousands, if not tens of thousands, of endpoints.

This is a bit of a gamble when almost all of the costs have to be incurred before service can be delivered. It is possible that some of the new entrants will run out of steam before their services are commercially available.

When Will Direct-to-Device Services Be Available?

In the context of cellphones, D2D is already available, through Globalstar’s partnership with Apple. In this case, the manufacturer modified the cellphone to talk to Globalstar’s satellite network. However, this proprietary approach has proven unpopular; Iridium and Qualcomm took a similar proposition to market and ultimately shelved the project.

In terms of a standards-based D2D service, there are some early solutions being tested as we write (in September 2024). Notably Skylo, leveraging Viasat and Ligado’s satellite constellations, have partnered with several device manufacturers to develop chipsets that can be added to terrestrial devices to deliver D2D functionality.

Taking the opposite approach – with satellites built for D2D, and needing no changes to devices – Starlink have announced that they intend to offer IoT services at some point in 2025. These will be limited to the areas where Starlink has an MNO partner.

With several technical hurdles still to overcome, it’s our view that we’ll start to see larger deployments of D2D IoT devices no earlier than 2026. In the meantime, however, the buzz around lower hardware pricing is already starting to impact proprietary solutions, with Iridium and Viasat for the first time allowing mass chipset manufacturers to build hybrid devices with their modems. These economies of scale should see proprietary satellite IoT hardware reducing in price, unlocking new applications for satellite IoT long before standards-based D2D becomes a reality.

Additional sources:

Can we help?

It’s an exciting time to be working on a remote IoT or tracking application, but with the greater volume of choice comes more uncertainty about the right service provider and networking technology for you.

We can help. We work with multiple satellite network operators with both standards-based and proprietary technology, and will provide you with unbiased, expert advice.

Complete the form or email hello@groundcontrol.com and we’ll get back to you within one working day.