Satellites Will Help the "Internet of Things" Fully Realize Its Potential

According to research firm Gartner, by 2020, the world will be using over 20 billion connected devices. From connected cars to connected homes, the "Internet of Things" (IoT) promises a host of benefits for industry and consumers.

But what communication technology is ready to handle 20 billion connections - some of which originate from aircraft over oceans, pipelines across the desolate tundra, or an oil rig in the North Sea?

No single technology or company can reach all possible markets and customers when handling the flow of required connections and data arrays.

Given the prevalence of space-based communications, satellite technology will play a crucial role in supporting the development of the IoT sector and realizing the full potential of interconnected devices.

That's why satellite operators are investing and collaborating in the development of services and equipment that can include IoT. At the same time, operators are confident that satellite solutions can be easily integrated into hybrid networks that combine fiber optics, wireless networks, and satellite to best serve the IoT sector and customers at all levels.

Ensuring Satellite Accessibility

For decades, satellite has played a vital role in the development of IoT. Business operations that extend to remote areas rely on satellites to provide connectivity for monitoring assets and instant control of assets at unmanned sites and offshore platforms.

Now, according to NSR, by 2023, there will be 5.8 million machine-to-machine (M2M) and IoT connections worldwide. Coupled with new technologies that provide low cost per bit, the satellite industry is redefining the solutions it can provide to address the largest communication demands our users have ever known.

In satellite-enabled IoT, narrowband providers such as the L-band currently dominate. However, with the advent of high-speed Ku-band and Ka-band satellite connections, capabilities in orbit have created a broadband superhighway in space - easily handling the potential volume of capabilities in the IoT and M2M sectors.

To truly have a significant impact, access to satellite services must be easier than ever. In other words, more electronic antennas and powerful modems are needed to simplify satellite installation and use for people and devices. This requires innovation across the entire satellite ecosystem to facilitate access, while complementing other technologies to create hybrid solutions.

For example, the most progressive satellite operators have made strategic investments with antenna technology providers based on metamaterials. These partnerships will lead to a range of antennas and terminals no larger than a laptop. They will serve vertical applications such as mobility, content delivery, and wireless backhaul.

Furthermore, a new model that combines the benefits of satellites in geostationary orbit and those offered by constellations of satellites in low Earth orbit will redefine satellite communications. These hybrid fleets will provide broadband coverage to polar regions. They will also be able to allocate bandwidth for regions or applications with high traffic density, as well as for critical applications where redundancy is required.

The Opportunity for Broadcast Services for Connected Cars

Delivering bandwidth to the connected car market also represents a major opportunity for communications companies. Today's cars on the road use LTE cellular networks. However, delivery systems that will fully cover this sector will rely on hybrid communications using both satellite and terrestrial technologies.

The global nature of satellite systems and the ability to broadcast to multiple points is the most efficient way to deliver a signal to the ground. Satellite broadcasts can seamlessly work with terrestrial cellular operators to achieve global coverage and allow automakers to reach all of their vehicles on a single network.

This means that multi-billion dollar expenses for automakers, such as vehicle recalls to update software, could be avoided. Instead, satellites will broadcast software updates for cars on a global basis. Broadcasting capabilities give satellites a strategic advantage in providing both operational and navigation software updates that will be essential as we move into the next decade.

Satellites also have superior cybersecurity, which is important when considering a future where software is the most important element in the operation of your car. It offers a consolidated distribution capability that reduces cyberattack vectors by eight or nine orders of magnitude compared to cellular in terms of entry and exit points.

The Opportunity to Connect Autonomous Vehicles

Terrestrial Wi-Fi and cellular networks only support part of the grid that will be needed to allow fully autonomous vehicles to navigate city streets and highways. Satellite communications will play a vital role in the connectivity and autonomy of smart cars.

An autonomous vehicle requires two different types of external signals. Vehicle functions such as steering or braking, which need information about other vehicles along the route, must rely on terrestrial networks with virtually no signal delay, due to the time sensitivity of these interactions.

Other vehicle functions that need less time-dependent information can rely on satellites as a means of communication due to the inherent attributes of ubiquity and broadcasting for satellite technologies. For example, satellites can multicast updates to cars regarding road conditions and local city street visualization and mapping of chosen routes - without fear that a sudden peak in wireless traffic will slow down or cancel the response time.

IoT cannot exist without the support of satellite companies. The most promising satellite operators are currently undertaking initiatives aimed at ensuring that the advancement of IoT best integrates satellite technologies.