Satellite IoT refers to a specialized communication ecosystem that uses satellites orbiting the Earth to connect and exchange data with IoT devices. LEO or Low-Earth orbit is the most popular satellite network used for communication due to its high bandwidth and low latency.

The Value and Types of Satellite Networks

There are three primary types of satellite networks for IoT connectivity:

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These satellites have a smaller coverage area and complete an orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes, providing frequent service availability. The low orbital height results in significantly lower latency compared to Geostationary (GEO) satellites.

• Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). Positioned at a higher altitude than LEO satellites, MEO satellites provide broader coverage with slightly higher latency.

• Geostationary (GEO). GEO satellites remain stationary relative to the Earth's position and offer global coverage, but with higher latency due to their greater orbital distance.

How Does Satellite IoT Work?

Satellite IoT operates through connectivity between IoT devices, such as sensors or trackers, and orbiting satellites. These IoT devices are responsible for gathering data or executing specific tasks, and their collected data is transmitted to satellites through specialized communication protocols, such as LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol), NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT), Sigfox, Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD), Globalstar Simplex. Afterward, the satellite data is received by the ground stations, is further processed and becomes accessible to end-users via applications.

Satellite IoT VS Cellular IoT

What Are IoT Satellite Use Cases?

• Marine Telematics. Devices like Iridium's satellite-based trackers enable tracking of shipping containers, vessels, and vehicles during ocean voyages, providing essential data for logistics and safety purposes.

• Smart Agriculture. Globalstar's SmartOne Solar and similar devices offer low-power, solar-powered satellite tracking for agricultural assets in remote areas, with real-time monitoring and optimizing farm operations.

• Remote Oil Rigs. In remote offshore oil drilling operations, devices like Inmarsat's BGAN terminals provide reliable satellite communications for data transmission and crew communication.

• Mining Operations. IoT satellite modems such as Orbcomm's enable mining companies to track heavy equipment, monitor environmental conditions, and enhance safety in remote mining areas.

• Construction Equipment.  Globalstar's SPOT Trace Solution enables tracking construction equipment and assets in locations where terrestrial connectivity is limited.

• Transportation Telematics. Iridium Edge Pro allows real-time tracking and monitoring of vehicles and containers across transportation routes, even in remote areas.