Daviteq Technologies
SATELLITE-IOT
Satellite-IoT (Internet of Things over satellite) is a wireless communication technology that connects IoT devices directly or indirectly to satellites, instead of relying on terrestrial cellular networks. With global coverage, it enables data transmission in remote, rural, or maritime regions where traditional cellular connectivity is unavailable or unreliable.
How Does Satellite-IoT Work?
Satellite-IoT uses low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology to connect IoT devices directly to satellites orbiting the Earth. Unlike terrestrial networks that require ground-based base stations, Satellite IoT ensures coverage even in remote areas such as oceans, deserts, or mountains. Devices send small packets of data at scheduled intervals, which are then forwarded through satellites to cloud platforms for processing and use in applications.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works:
1. End Devices (Sensors & Nodes)
These are IoT devices deployed in the field — such as livestock trackers, weather sensors, container monitors, or pipeline sensors.
They periodically send small data messages (like GPS coordinates, temperature, or pressure).
Example: A cattle tracker sends its location every 2 hours.
2. Satellites
Instead of relying on terrestrial towers, devices transmit directly to low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
These satellites act as relay stations, receiving signals from thousands of devices across large regions simultaneously.
3. Ground Stations (Gateways)
Satellites forward the collected data down to ground stations.
These gateways connect the satellite network to the Internet backbone, ensuring reliable delivery to cloud platforms.
4. Cloud Platform & Applications
The data is processed and made available through APIs.
Businesses can access this data for applications such as fleet management, environmental monitoring, or asset tracking — all in near real time.
Satellite-IoT Key Features
Long range coverage
Up to 15–20 km in rural areas, 2–5 km in urban areas
Ultra-low power consumption
Devices can operate for 5–10 years on a single battery
Flexible deployment
Can use public networks or deploy private networks
Low operating cost
No high monthly mobile data fees
Supports a large number of devices
Thousands of nodes per gateway
Low bandwidth
Data rates from only 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps, not suitable for large data volumes
High latency
Not suitable for applications requiring real-time response
Not suitable for high-speed mobility
Optimized for stationary or slow-moving devices
Satellite-IoT Applications
Global
Asset Tracking
Satellite IoT enables seamless tracking of shipping containers, trucks, vessels, and aircraft across oceans and remote regions where terrestrial networks cannot reach. Devices can transmit real-time location, status, and environmental conditions (like temperature or humidity), ensuring end-to-end visibility in global logistics and supply chains.
From deep oceans to vast forests, Satellite IoT provides reliable data collection for climate research, disaster prevention, and natural resource management. Sensors can monitor water levels, forest fires, glacier movement, and air quality in regions completely outside terrestrial coverage, supporting sustainability and environmental protection.
Maritime & Offshore Safety
With wide-area coverage, Satellite IoT delivers critical connectivity for ships, oil rigs, and offshore platforms. It supports emergency alerts, crew safety systems, and equipment monitoring in real time, even during harsh weather or far from coastal networks—ensuring operational continuity and worker safety at sea.
Satellite-IoT & Other Connectivities
Title |
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Coverage Range |
Data Rate |
Power Consumption |
Device/ Service Cost |
Required Infrastructure |
Typical Applications |
Satellite IoT | LTE-M | NB-IoT | Sub-1GHz |
|---|---|---|---|
Global | 1–10 km | 1–10 km (excellent indoor penetration) | 1–10 km |
Dozens to hundreds of bps | Up to ~1 Mbps | 26–250 kbps | Several kbps to hundreds of kbps |
Low to medium | Medium | Low to medium | Very low |
High | Medium | Medium (IoT SIM) | Low |
Satellite connection | LTE mobile network | NB-IoT mobile network | Self-deployed network |
Remote asset tracking (rural areas), disaster management, oil & gas operations, maritime monitoring | Wearables, vehicle tracking, healthcare devices, mobile POS, fleet management | Smart meters, environmental monitoring, smart parking, healthcare devices, logistics tracking | Warehouse monitoring, environment monitoring, industrial monitoring and control |
Daviteq Satellite-IoT Sensors & Actuators
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Using a Sigfox-certified RF module
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Ultra-low power design, class 1u RF
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Support all Sigfox zones in the World
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10-Year battery with just 2 x AA 1.5V Alkaline or Lithium battery (depends on sensor type and configuration)
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Standard internal antenna
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Optional external antenna
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Optional with Solar harvesting energy with 10-Year Lifetime;
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IP67/ 68 protection for both Indoor and Outdoor applications;
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Ex d approved design for Hazardous zones 1-2-21-22
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CE/FCC on request
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Integrate with 100+ sensor types or I/O: temperature, humidity, pressure, level, vibration, CO₂, CO, NH₃, Cl₂, H₂S...
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Satellite-IoT Sensors
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Satellite-IoT Actuators
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Satellite-IoT Gateways
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions about wireless connectivity, compatibility, and how to choose the right technology for your IoT deployment.
What defines Satellite IoT in terms of architecture and communication protocols?
Satellite IoT refers to Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and IoT communication over satellite constellations, typically operating in LEO (Low Earth Orbit), MEO, or GEO. Unlike terrestrial IoT networks, Satellite IoT relies on Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) as defined in 3GPP Release 17, supporting both NB-IoT NTN and eMTC NTN standards. It enables connectivity via bent-pipe (transparent payload) or regenerative (on-board processing) architectures, depending on the satellite system.
How does Satellite IoT overcome latency and coverage challenges compared to terrestrial IoT?
Satellite IoT mitigates latency and coverage constraints by deploying LEO constellations (altitude ~500–1,200 km), reducing round-trip latency from ~600 ms (GEO) to ~30–50 ms. Techniques such as Doppler shift compensation, adaptive coding/modulation, and store-and-forward mechanisms ensure reliable transmission. Combined with beamforming and inter-satellite links (ISL), Satellite IoT provides global reach, even in oceans, deserts, and remote areas.
What are the key advantages of Satellite IoT compared to LTE-M or NB-IoT?
Global coverage, independent of terrestrial cell towers.
Works in remote/offshore areas (shipping, mining, agriculture, oil & gas).
Can integrate with terrestrial IoT networks for hybrid connectivity.
High resilience against natural disasters or infrastructure outages.
What are the main application scenarios of Satellite IoT?
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Asset and fleet tracking across continents/ oceans.
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Environmental monitoring (forests, glaciers, oceans).
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Precision agriculture and livestock management in remote farms.
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Maritime, aviation, and energy infrastructure monitoring.
How does Satellite IoT handle power efficiency in remote devices?
Satellite IoT uses optimised waveforms, burst-mode uplink, and long sleep cycles. With NTN-enabled NB-IoT/ eMTC, devices leverage PSM (Power Saving Mode) and eDRX (Extended Discontinuous Reception), allowing multi-year battery life despite longer link distances. Many solutions also support hybrid terrestrial-satellite fallback to save energy when terrestrial coverage is available.
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