3 diamonds satellites. photo courtesy of sky and space global … · 2020-05-06 · satellites, low...

www.satellite-evolution.com | July/August 201716

IoT Disruption

3 Diamonds satellites. Photo courtesy of Sky and Space Global

Disruption in the satellite industry

The global satellite industry has seen a number ofchanges in recent years due to advancements in technology,rapid globalisation, and increased government investmentin the sector. This is creating new opportunities in a varietyof sectors including telecoms and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Disruption in the satellite industry is providing an importanteconomic boost to European economies. For instance, thelatest industry report from the UK Space Agency revealedthat space continues to be a key infrastructure for the UK,supporting more than £250 billion of output across theeconomy with telecommunications, navigation, Ear thobservation and meteorology services. Satellite networks arethe fastest growing segment of the global satellite industry,which reported more than US$208 billion in revenue in 2015,according to a Satellite Industry Association report.

Nanosatellite technology in particular is disrupting theindustry, offering a cheaper and more versatile solution totraditional satellite communications, which are very costlyand typically involve a complex roll-out. Here are our thoughts

The satellite industry is certainly in a major state of change. We’ve moved away from standardwidebeam GEO satellites to high throughput satellites (HTS) in GEO, medium Earth orbit (MEO)satellites, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, small satellites, CubeSats, nanosatellites, and more.Each new innovation delivers capabilities suited to selected applications, providing a moretailored solution to people on the ground. Meir Moalem, Sky and Space Global’s CEO, outlineshow nanosatellites will provide an effective solution for bridging the digital divide, creating newopportunities for telecoms, and enabling the Internet of Things (IoT).

on a couple of key areas where nanosatellite technology ismaking headway and can bring a number of benefits, namelyin the telecoms sector and aiding the development of the IoT.

Disruption in the satellite industry – bridging the digitaldivideThere are many regions across the world with little or noconnectivity, particularly in developing countries and ruralareas. In fact, according to recent data, 51 percent of theworld’s population remain offline and unable to takeadvantage of the enormous economic and social benefitsthe Internet can offer. This leaves more than 3.5 billion peoplewithout digital access, particularly in emerging markets, whichare currently underserviced by providers. Poor connectivityin developing countries is a barrier to education, businessgrowth and economic prosperity. However, disruption in thesatellite industry is impacting this, working to effectively tacklethe problem.

Traditionally, satellite communication has been very costly

iot.pmd 17/08/2017, 18:5116

www.satellite-evolution.com | July/August 2017 17

IoT Disruption

and accessible only to a limited number of individuals ororganisations who can afford such services. Nanosatellitetechnology, on the other hand, offers a new solution, enablingthe delivery of satellite connectivity at a fraction of the costof traditional solutions. By harnessing unique technology, itis possible to build a very low CAPEX space infrastructure,based on nanosatellites which are cheaper to produce andlaunch. This also creates low operational costs because thenanosatellites will be managed by an autonomous network

management software programme. Therefore, services ofnarrowband satellite communications can be offered at muchmore affordable prices than traditional satellite connectivityservices.

New opportunities for telecomsThis creates significant new opportunities for telco providerswho have thus far been unable to reach those in remotelocations due to lack of affordable technology. Due to asaturated market and fierce competition within the telecomsindustry, providers are having to stay ahead of the game andbe more open to new business models and technologies.

Partnerships with nanosatellite companies provide anexciting opportunity, opening up a new source of revenueand enabling providers to offer affordable communicationsservices to people in remote locations. Therefore, theopportunities created by nanosatellite technology in thetelecoms industry are of mutual benefit to those developingthe technology, the telecom providers, and most of all, thepeople on the ground whose lives will be positively impactedby gaining access to these services.

IoTAnother area which is being disrupted by access to relativelylow-cost satellite communications is the IoT. Affordablesatellite communications will be of benefit to those managing

Meir Moalem, Sky and Space Global’s CEO

iot.pmd 17/08/2017, 18:5117

www.satellite-evolution.com | July/August 201718

IoT Disruption

and operating sensor networks, particularly in remote regions.IoT already relies on satellite communications - marketanalyst firm Obis Research recently published a reportforecasting that the global satellite enabled IoT market willgrow at a compound annual growth rate (CACR) of almostseven percent between 2017 and 2021.

However, the IoT is currently a trend that mostly affectsdeveloped markets because they have the right technologyand network infrastructure to enable innovation in this space.This needn’t be the case. Affordable satellite connectivity,enabled by nanosatellite technology, can drive faster adoptionof the IoT in developing markets and unlock IoT services inremote locations, where there is currently no communicationsinfrastructure. This also links to the point about bridging theglobal digital divide, helping developing countries to becomemore technologically advanced.

This provides opportunities to businesses that want tolaunch products with IoT features in developing markets. Allthe features of, for example, connected vehicles, wouldn’twork in areas without robust communications networks.

Therefore, a satellite-based communications network that canreach areas of the globe that cellular networks can’t, enablescompanies that want to sell in those countries to do so. Inaddition, when thinking about products like connected cars,which are expected to include a number of IoT features inthe future, one of the main concerns that ar ises iscybersecurity. Again, satellite technology provides a solution,offering more reliable cybersecurity than cellular networks.

Providing services anytime, anywhere, to anyoneWhile these are just two areas in which affordable satellitetechnology is having an impact, as other new technologieswhich demand a reliable communications network develop,nanosatellites will become ever more prevalent. By workingwith telco providers, mobile operators and corporates,nanosatell ites can provide all kinds of narrowbandcommunication services: anything from IoT, Machine toMachine (M2), instant messaging, digital financial transfers,data transfers, all the way to voice conversations. All of theseservices will be provided to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

3 Diamonds satellites. Photo courtesy of Sky and Space Global

iot.pmd 17/08/2017, 18:5118

Untitled-3 17/08/2017, 16:461