You can’t go into orbit, until you’ve done the core bit
Spanish oriented satellite operator Sateliot has asked Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create a fully-virtualised core to support 5G release 17, which enables non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity. It means that compatible devices will be able to connect directly to Sateliot’s network without needing modification. Sateliot’s strategy is to offer direct-to-satellite NB-IoT connectivity from low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide seamless coverage extension for mobile operators through simple roaming agreements.
It has previously worked with Telefónica to test its technology’s capacity to integrate with Kite, its managed connectivity platform for IoT devices, reported Nick Wood in Telecoms.com.
“Customers can continue using the same commercial RF module or device and SIM that they currently use to switch between their terrestrial network and Sateliot’s satellite constellation, without any additional hardware cost,” said Sateliot, in a statement on Monday. “5G-based connectivity for narrowband IoT over satellite is expected to be a key enabler for massive universal IoT adoption across the world as it allows IoT service providers to connect directly to satellite networks using inexpensive RF modules compared to expensive current solutions.”
Keeping a lid on costs is key with NB-IoT, said Wood, since customers want to use these networks to carry small volumes of data, often intermittently, from lots of devices. Delivering IoT from space reaches into remote regions but satellite network deployment is expensive and time-consuming when satellite design and rocket science is factored in
Sateliot, founded in 2018 didn’t launched its first satellite until March 2021 and hasn’t repeated the process yet. Its next launch was promised in early October at the last estimate, but this will be another test satellite. Recently Sateliot said its commercial satellite constellation is a work-in-funding which will begin next year.
In addition to picking AWS to host its infrastructure, Sateliot said it will use the open-source Magma platform for the core network software itself. Development of Magma began at Meta as a project aimed at spurring small-scale, low-cost network deployment in rural and underserved areas. Last year, it became part of the Linux Foundation.