The Significance of IoT in Everyday Life
The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming increasingly integral to our daily experiences, with developments like Industrial IoT and Smart Cities gaining momentum. Nevertheless, achieving full connectivity remains a significant hurdle in fully harnessing these advancements.
G+D’s Initiative for Enhanced Connectivity
To tackle this issue, Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is making a notable advancement by offering global network support for its IoT services. This all-encompassing solution merges cellular 5G NB-NTN satellite communications with traditional mobile connectivity, ensuring a consistent and dependable global network.
The Challenge of Coverage
Although mobile network access has expanded to cover a substantial portion of the Earth’s landmass, vast areas, including oceans, remote locations, and rural zones, still face limited or nonexistent connectivity. This lack of coverage poses a major challenge for the burgeoning IoT industry, which relies on extensive and reliable network access for its applications to function properly.
Collaboration with Skylo for Connectivity Solutions
G+D is actively working to bridge this connectivity divide by partnering with Skylo, a leader in Non-Terrestrial Network communications, to enhance its satellite network services. This initiative covers five continents and connects to current Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) constellations, with plans to expand to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations as they become available. Furthermore, this initiative complements G+D’s collaboration with Sateliot, which operates a LEO network. Both Skylo and Sateliot utilize the same cellular technology as existing mobile networks, making satellite connectivity more affordable by tapping into the extensive cellular framework.
Accessing Diverse Satellite Systems
Through this new collaboration, G+D can now leverage satellite systems in both geostationary and low-Earth orbits, in addition to conventional mobile networks, to enhance global IoT connectivity. GEO satellites orbit at approximately 36,000 kilometers above the Earth, while LEO satellites function at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1,500 kilometers. IoT devices can seamlessly switch from mobile to satellite communication when necessary, without any disruption to the user experience.
Comprehensive IoT Service Solutions
G+D offers its IoT services as a complete package that includes an iSIM, eSIM, or pSIM alongside IoT connectivity, all managed through an IoT platform. Alternatively, companies can opt to acquire specific components of the solution, such as secure connectivity or the management system.
Diverse Applications of G+D’s IoT Solutions
The potential applications for G+D’s IoT solutions are vast. For instance, use cases like asset tracking and smart farming illustrate just a snippet of the possibilities. In the transportation and logistics sector, satellite connectivity is becoming crucial for the monitoring and tracking of goods, especially in remote areas or at sea where mobile coverage may be lacking. These devices can send and receive vital information, including location and temperature, which are essential for preserving the quality of goods.
The Role of IoT in Agriculture
Similarly, IoT solutions that provide extensive network coverage are vital in the agricultural sector. By tracking key metrics such as soil moisture and crop maturity, farmers can enhance yields and boost overall productivity.
The Importance of Global Connectivity
“As the demand for IoT connectivity grows, the necessity for seamless global network coverage becomes increasingly critical. Comprehensive global connectivity is essential to unlock the full potential and impact of IoT applications,” states Dr. Philipp Schulte, CEO of G+D Mobile Security. “Our new partnership with Skylo allows us to further address this coverage gap by delivering IoT services that leverage both mobile networks and GEO and LEO satellite networks. This integration of terrestrial 5G networks with satellite-based non-terrestrial networks will enable uninterrupted coverage for all IoT devices worldwide.”
