It will begin to recurrently bill €187 million in binding orders signed with 350 clients in over 50 countries.

Sateliot, the first company to operate a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) 5G IoT satellite constellation acting as a seamless roaming extension of cellular networks, will launch four new satellites into space this year with SpaceX.

With the deployment of these four satellites plus the two already orbiting the Earth, Sateliot enters the first phase of its constellation, opening its commercial phase.

Sateliot, which counts partners such as Indra, Cellnex, or Sepides, will begin billing the €187 million of binding orders with over 350 clients in more than 50 countries worldwide. With these recurring revenues, the company aims to generate €500 million in revenue by 2027 and become a one billion revenue company by 2030.

The Spanish company has recently raised €13.5 million; of these, €6 million came from Banco Santander, €5 million from a convertible note, and the remaining €2.5 million from a participative loan from the public company Avançsa. These funds, along with the start of Series B, will allow it to advance its technology development, launch the four satellites, and strengthen the human team for the complete deployment of its constellation in 2027/2028, providing real-time coverage worldwide.

What are the satellites like?

The satellites consist of 4 cubesats, each 20 x 10 x 35 centimeters in size. They are the size of a microwave and have a net weight of 10 kilograms. They will orbit at an altitude of between 500 and 600 kilometers, have a lifespan of five years, and cover 100% of the planet.

However, the fundamental part of these satellites lies in their interior, supported by their own innovative technology tested and validated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the 3GPP, the organization that periodically brings together the main actors in the telecommunications sector. This technology is standard and democratic, open to all citizens, public administrations, and companies.

Being standard makes it scalable, easy to maintain, and updated, allowing for the progressive deployment of the constellation according to customer demands. It starts with connectivity services for IoT applications such as agriculture, which only require two daily messages, and ends with real-time services worldwide. In this way, Sateliot can provide service with its first-phase constellation as opposed to other companies that need to deploy
many more satellites for a similar commercial start.

Sateliot is renowned worldwide for satellite IoT and is one of the main companies driving the Spanish New Space, a strategic sector that has taken advantage of technological advances, reduced development times, and low investment costs to give renewed impetus to the industry.

Jaume Sanpera, CEO and co-founder of Sateliot said,

“We are ready to enter a new dimension, both technologically and commercially. We are closer to becoming the first IoT constellation operating worldwide under the 5G standard. And we will place Spain at the forefront of the New Space revolution.”

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The past few years have seen remarkable growth in the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) across industries like healthcare, business, and finance. In fact, a previous post illustrates how this trend is poised to remain throughout 2024 as the IoT landscape continues to transform when powered by other emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

For instance, the combination of AI and ML can aid in predictive maintenance and energy management, while also being compatible with IoT management platforms for overall operational efficiency. However, new priorities arise with these changes, such as enhanced cybersecurity in IoT networks to preserve data integrity and device security and energy efficiency to reduce waste and contribute to sustainability goals.

Despite IoT delivering productivity and efficiency at a large scale, its increasing rate of development and adoption can also have drawbacks in terms of prolonged screen time. Considering the average screen time of users worldwide is six hours and 37 minutes per day, this means that professionals developing IoT systems or individuals who utilise IoT for work, education, and daily life expose themselves to the blue light emitted by digital devices.

As the article will discuss, the long-term consequences of blue light exposure raise the need to include digital eye health and safety among the priorities in this modern, IoT-focused era.

Prolonged exposure to blue light in the digital age

As IoT networks are increasingly becoming essential for productivity, users must be careful of the blue light from smartphones, computers, tablets, and other digital devices. 2022 research published in the journal Heliyon notes that despite blue light influencing visual performance in terms of the perception of visual stimuli and contrast sensitivity, these artificial sources of blue light raise a myriad of health concerns.

Since blue light has a higher photon energy than other wavelengths of visible light, it can cause retinal damage and increase the risk of ocular conditions like macular degeneration. Blue light has also been linked to computer vision syndrome, which can manifest as symptoms like blurry vision, headache, dry eyes, and eye discomfort and fatigue. If left unregulated, excessive absorption of blue light can also disrupt the body’s natural sleep patterns, ultimately affecting health and quality of life.

The increasing need for eye-healthy tech

Fortunately, the prevailing health concerns associated with blue light from IoT devices can be mitigated with the help of other technologies. Among these are blue light glasses, which provide digital protection and visual comfort by filtering harmful blue-violet light and only allowing blue-turquoise light to enter the eye for increased alertness. Eyewear retailer Eyebuydirect even offers a wide range of blue-light filtering lens options, from EBDBlue Plus for everyday use to EBDBlue 360 for premium anti-glare. These lens options are applicable whether the user wears prescription glasses for vision correction or non-prescription ones for eye care and maintenance.

Protective features against blue light can also be integrated into the IoT devices themselves to minimise visual damage. For example, Eyesafe recently introduced Eyesafe RPF60, a patented blue light filtration technology that reduces 60% of blue light at the wavelengths that matter most (435-440nm). When applied to digital screens, this innovative light absorption technology can protect users from the negative effects of blue light without compromising quality and colour performance. Additionally, Eyesafe has updated the specifications for RPF Radiance Protection Factor for screen accessories, allowing consumers to choose displays that are tested and assigned a protective rating.

Lastly, IoT itself can be deployed to regulate blue light exposure and maintain optimal eye health. Australian-owned hardware company Ams released the AS7264N tri-stimulus sensor to measure blue-light wavelengths in lit environments and ensure it closely matches the human eye’s response to the visible light spectrum. The sensor is small and low-cost, and can be installed in displays, lighting systems, and smart building automation or management solutions. Overall, this makes the device useful in protecting end-users from blue light’s adverse health effects across commercial, residential, and industrial settings.

Clearly, blue light exposure in this digital age is not something that can simply be overlooked. As IoT devices, networks, and systems that serve as artificial sources of blue light become a part of everyday life, it is worth investing in tech like blue light-filtering glasses, monitors, and sensors for optimal eye health and sight preservation.

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According to a new report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, the installed base of smart gas meters in Europe amounted to 55.9 million in 2023, equivalent to a penetration rate of 45 percent.

The installed base is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 6.8 percent between 2023 and 2028, reaching 77.6 million units at the end of the period. Annual shipment volumes amounted to 4.8 million units in 2023 and are expected to be around 5.0–5.8 million throughout the forecast period.

The UK, Italy and Belgium were the most active markets, together accounting for 86 percent of all smart gas meter shipments during the year. While the rollouts in Italy, France and the Netherlands are largely completed, the UK market is finally after several delays ramping up yearly installations to reach a peak of 3.2–3.4 million units per year during 2024–2025. Belgium and Ireland are two other markets that are expected to contribute with significant shipment volumes in the coming years. The Spanish market is expected to reach yearly shipment volumes of 1.0 million units by the end of the forecast period.

The smart gas meters deployed in Europe have over the past years not been networked in quite the same way as their counterparts in the electricity sector. A common model, observed in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium, is to utilize a local wireless or wired interface to transmit gas data via the customer’s smart electricity meter. A mix of 169 MHz RF and 2G/3G cellular communications has meanwhile been the primary model for the largest projects in which smart gas meters have been deployed independently of smart electricity meters, such as in Italy and France. A change of the status quo is likely on the horizon as new types of LPWA technologies have become more readily available in the past couple of years.

Mattias Carlsson, IoT Analyst at Berg Insight, said:
“The Italian gas sector was the first in Europe to initiate large-scale adoption of NB-IoT as a primary smart meter connectivity choice and in 2023 the installed base of gas meters with NB-IoT connectivity in the country reached more than 2.5 million at the end of the year. We anticipate that by the end of the forecast period NB-IoT will become the go-to connectivity option for smart gas meters, not only in Italy but also in several other European markets.”

The composition of communications technologies in the installed base of smart gas meters has already begun to shift in favor of new LPWA technologies. 169 MHz still however remains the most popular communications technology with a market share of around 37 percent at the end of 2023, while Zigbee boasted a market share of 26 percent. By 2026, Zigbee is expected to surpass 169 MHz as the most prevalent connectivity option with an installed base of 23.4 million – a number that is further forecasted to increase to 25.5 million in 2028.

NB-IoT/LTE-M is expected to be the fastest growing connectivity option at a CAGR of 35 percent during 2023–2028 to reach an installed base of around 13.2 million units in 2028 and accounting for as much as 60 percent of yearly shipment volumes at the end of the forecast period.

Another emerging technology trend is the anticipated increase in the use of hydrogen in European gas supply operations.

Mr. Carlsson concluded:

“Projects are currently underway in for example the UK and Italy that pilots metering devices capable of measuring either pure hydrogen or a blend of hydrogen and natural gas. The interest in hydrogen meters is anticipated to increase as the technology matures.”

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Tele2 IoT launches international rollout of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, which will provide the voice call technology required by our customers to operate voice calls in the 4G network globally.

As 2G and 3G are sunsetting across the globe, and everything connected to these old networks stops working, it is important to provide options for IoT customers using traditional voice services. The rollout of VoLTE in Tele2’s Swedish network, as well as in selected networks across the globe, will enable Tele2 IoT customers to use next-generation technology to cater to their voice call needs.

The use of VoLTE will enhance coverage across the globe by seamlessly leveraging efficient future-proof network technology. The launch of VoLTE is also a significant milestone in Tele2’s sustainability efforts, as it will enable IoT-customers to move to the new generation of more energy efficient devices.

“Voice services play an important role in IoT deployments, particularly those having mission-critical applications. Enabling VoLTE for IoT customers marks a significant milestone in our ability to serve our customers’ needs. This launch reflects Tele2’s commitment to excellence and is in line with our vision to enable a society of unlimited possibilities.” says Cyril Deschanel, Managing Director of IoT at Tele2.

VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is a powerful alternative to the current 2G/3G voice service, delivering superior voice clarity, faster data speeds, and extended battery life for IoT devices. With the full launch of VoLTE now complete, this means Tele2 IoT can globally support VoLTE on any SIM provided by Tele2.

Most operators are already in the process of shutting down 3G, with 2G closure not far behind. For Tele2, in Sweden 2G/3G will be fully sunsetted by December 2025, which means it is crucial that devices are ready in good time. Mission-critical applications in healthcare, for example, are particularly dependent on a high-quality voice function.

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Missions include a constellation satellite for monitoring methane gas emissions and two satellites for the world’s largest 5G Narrowband-IoT constellation

Kongsberg NanoAvionics (“NanoAvionics”), a leading smallsat bus manufacturer and mission integrator, has announced that four of its manufactured satellites are going into orbit aboard the upcoming SpaceX Transporter-10 mission.

NanoAvionics’s three customers on this rideshare mission are Luxembourg’s OQ Technology, the world’s first global satellite 5G IoT (Internet of Things) operator, Spanish Earth observation (EO) company Satlantis, and South Korea’s Contec, a ground station operator and service provider.

OQ Technology’s Tiger-7 and Tiger-8 nanosatellites will expand the world’s first and largest 5G Narrowband-IoT constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO) to ten satellites. The two 6U nanosatellites constitute the fifth and sixth satellite that NanoAvionics has manufactured for OQ Technology. All of OQ Technology’s constellation satellites can connect directly to off-the-shelf IoT devices and machines and provide tracking and monitoring information.

The 16U HORACIO satellite will be Satlantis’ third satellite embarking its iSIM-90 imager into space. Its high-resolution data will give insights for multiple EO applications, such as infrastructure monitoring, methane gas emissions quantification, food security, and coastal and border awareness.

The “CONTECSAT-1” satellite is aimed at companies and organisations requiring data for maritime environments, city management, and agriculture. The 16U nanosatellite has an integrated multispectral imager, supplied by a NanoAvionics’s partner, with 1,5 m resolution. It will enable Contec to produce customised satellite imagery for their customers.

Žilvinas Kvedaravičius, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics, said: “Our continued record of successfully building and launching nano- and microsatellites for individual missions as well as constellations is testimony to our position as the one of the prime smallsat manufacturers and mission operators in the US and Europe. The ongoing satellite production for existing customers is also an endorsement and validation of the high-quality and cost-effectiveness of our products and services. As a result, NanoAvionics has successfully launched more nanosatellites in the past five years than any other external manufacturer in the world, and we see a surging demand for our microsatellite buses, too.”

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During MWC Barcelona 2024, Liu Kang, President of Huawei ICT Marketing & Solution Sales, delivered a keynote speech titled “Embracing 5.5G to Unleash Industry Dividends” at the 5G Advanced: Completing the Enterprise Opportunity conference.

Liu Kang said that 5G has become a must for industry digitalization and that upgrading to 5.5G is expected to enhance network capabilities by 10-fold.

This, he noted, will drive industries to accelerate intelligent digital transformation and further unleash industry dividends.

Supported by 5.5G’s key features such as 10 Gbps downlink, 1 Gbps uplink, deterministic network, support for 100 billion IoT connections, and native intelligence, operators can provide enterprise users with better connectivity services and a wider range of integrated ICT services. Such services will effectively support the core production processes of enterprises, and enable the all-scenario connection of things and more reliable intelligent transportation, thus accelerating both social and economic development.

Providing better connectivity services to enhance SME connectivity

Supported by 5.5G, FWA will continue evolving towards FWA² that features 20-ms low latency and high reliability. Operators will replace microwave lines and low-speed copper lines with better connectivity services, extending FWA services from home to enterprise scenarios, enhancing the connectivity of SMEs and maximizing network value.

Offering a wider range of integrated ICT services to accelerate industry digitalization

With its enhanced capabilities, 5.5G provides guaranteed speeds of 300 Mbps, 20-ms latency at 99.999% reliability. Furthermore, by supporting additional industry demands, such as networking, computing, cloud, and IoT, 5.5G will create “X capabilities” for industries, driving the digitalization and automation of more application scenarios in the future.

Providing effective support for enterprises’ core production processes to increase production efficiency

5.5G enables uplink rates up to 1 Gbps, latency as low as 4 ms, and reliability as high as 99.999%. These capabilities can effectively support the core production processes of enterprises, significantly enhancing their production efficiency. Taking production at coal mines as an example, many underground mines have a fully-mechanized mining face that is longer than 100 meters. Thanks to 5.5G’s ultra-large uplink capability, over 100 HD cameras can be deployed for real-time video uploading, and AI technology is employed to stitch panoramic videos from fully-mechanized mining faces. This 5.5G smart mine solution realizes “see all, see clearly” for underground operations. This is how 5.5G technology can contribute to health and safety regarding underground mining.

Adapting to IoT requirements across all scenarios to accelerate the development of a market of 100 billion IoT connections

5.5G enhancements can be seen in areas like uplink bandwidth, latency, positioning, and passive tagging, which can meet IoT requirements across all scenarios. The declining cost of RedCap and passive IoT devices is driving the IoT market to scale up faster and move towards achieving 100 billion IoT connections.

Enabling vehicle-road collaboration to improve driving safety and traffic management efficiency

By the end of 2023, the global connected vehicle count had reached 350 million. 5.5G Macro Sites enableto deliver low latency of 20 ms and high reliability of 99%, thereby accelerating vehicle-road collaboration for enhanced driving safety and traffic management efficiency. This solution has been verified from end to end in Shanghai, and is projected to improve traffic management efficiency by 30% and reduce average commute times by 20%. Liu Kang noted that close industry partnerships are instrumental in unlocking the benefits of 5.5G. Huawei is committed to working with industry and ecosystem partners to explore the wide-ranging applications of 5.5G technology, and bring about a new era of intelligent interconnection of industry applications. This will enable all participants to benefit from 5.5G development and enjoy shared success.

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