In a world where IoT seems ubiquitous, it's hard to imagine that large chunks of the world have no connectivity or, at best irregular, patchy, unreliable networks.
Reliable connectivity is essential for many use cases, from connected cars to emergency services and oil and gas monitoring. One way to ensure reliable connectivity is through the use of satellites.
Spanish telco startup Sateliot connects IoT under the standardised 5G NB-IoT protocol via a low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation of nanosatellites.
These satellites act as cell towers from space and extend cellular coverage to remote areas without extra hardware or software requirements, which is an industry first.
Today it announces a valuable partnership with GoSpace to provide NTN NB-IoT connectivity to its MERATCH sensor solution for water management, including drinking water well owners, in the US.
Network connectivity meets a great use for NB-IoT
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is a wireless telecommunications technology standard developed by 3GPP, the international standards body responsible for all major mobile telecommunications standards, such as 4G LTE (4G) and 5G NR (5G).
NB-IoT was developed specifically for IoT, especially long-term low-energy, relatively low-speed use cases such as home automation, and agricultural and cattle monitoring.
Its large-signal repetition is a great tool for delivering underground solutions like water management as it functions in remote areas, inside builds and underground.
A need for connected water management
Currently, 15 percent of the US population (about 43 million people), rely on private wells to source drinking water. Well water is prone to contamination and flooding, meaning reliable monitoring is essential.
GoSpace MERATCH uses IoT to monitor the presence of water contaminants by measuring pH acidity levels, temperature, and water flow and level.
Once connected with a low latency-narrowband network, like Sateliot's 5G satellite constellation, the system pings a notification alert when unusual situations occur. This serves as an early warning system in case of upcoming floods or possible water contamination.
Sateliot was founded in 2018 in Barcelona. The company has raised a total of €16.5. million in funding over three rounds, most recently raising €10 million in 2022. Clients include Schneider Electric, Atos, Sodaq, Bosch and Kuehne & Nagel.
Lead image: Sateliot.
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