Eutelsat has announced plans to launch 24 nanosatellites for IoT connectivity and says Sigfox — an existing partner — will use the network to provide satellite connectivity in addition to Sigfox network connectivity.
The first demo ELO satellite is due to be launched early next year and the first four operational satellites will be developed by Loft Orbital (ELO 1 and 2) and Clyde Space (ELO 3 and 4) and are expected to be launched between 2020 and 2021.
Eutelsat says, if the initiative proves successful, it will have a total of 25 satellites operational by 2022. It says the investment required for the constellation is included in its existing capex outlook and the cost associated with each satellite will not exceed 1 million euros ($A1.62m).
Eutelsat ordered its first nanosatellite from Tyvak International in 2018. It is due to be launched early in 2020 “to confirm the technical performance of various waveforms between a satellite in low earth orbit and objects on the ground.”
Eutelsat says combining satellite technology with terrestrial IoT will be key to accessing the economies of scale required to deploy satellite IoT and it aims to position itself as the partner of choice for IT integrators and terrestrial operators seeking to offer their customers worldwide coverage.
Sigfox to integrate Eutelsat connectivity
To this end it has signed a strategic partnership with Sigfox under which Sigfox will integrate the global coverage provided by the ELO constellation with Sigfox LPWAN services offered in 65 countries.
Eutelsat says the enhanced network coverage will open the door to many new use cases in areas like maritime transportation or logistics, and the safety of people in emergency situations.
Sigfox and Eutelsat have a long-standing relationship. Eutelsat was one of seven investors that pumped $US115m into Sigfox in February 2015.
When Eutelsat announced plans for its first nanosatellite in 2018, it said: “Sigfox will work with Eutelsat on two aspects: analyse the spectrum used by the satellite in ISM ]frequency bands; and process data from objects. … The synergies developed through the partnership with Sigfox, as well as with other strategic alliances in the telecom industry, should open up new opportunities for Eutelsat in this fast-growing market.”
Also in 2015 Eutelsat announced that Sigfox would use its services to complement the Sigfox terrestrial wireless network by integrating ‘SmartLNB’, a low bitrate, low-power satellite technology developed by Eutelsat I to enable Sigfox base stations to exchange data.
