Cloud-based cellular network provider Monogoto today announced a new roaming agreement with Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service operator Skylo Technologies. This new agreement lowers the barrier for developers to add satellite connectivity to existing public and/or private networks already available on Monogoto Cloud, delivering the world's most affordable and accessible solution for NB-IoT Satellite connectivity for asset tracking products.
In addition, low-power tracking and sensing solutions provider SODAQ will launch a new asset-tracking trial kit, using Monogoto connectivity and network.
"Using Monogoto Cloud developers can now add satellite connectivity with a single API call, without worrying about expensive setup or training and for just a dollar per month. The advent of satellite NB-IoT technology, coupled with the maturity of 5G and 3GPP standards is game-changing for developers," says Monogoto CTO Maor Efrati. "For the first time, they can seamlessly connect their products, built for the regular cellular model, to satellite networks and add satellite coverage at a significantly lower cost."
Efrati illustrates the potential of the Monogoto/Skylo/SODAQ solution by outlining a use case of a global logistics provider that is reliant upon cellular connectivity only to monitor driver behavior and/or assets.
"Imagine the ability to add satellite connectivity when cellular or other networks are not available, giving developers the ultimate resiliency that devices will always be connected," he notes.
"Skylo is excited to partner with Monogoto as its wholesale NTN operator partner," said Eric DaVersa, Vice-President of Business Development for Skylo Technologies. "The Monogoto focus on addressing the developer community where IoT solutions are conceptualized is ideal for the rapid integration of terrestrial/satellite roaming. This offering will help fleets obtain ubiquitous connectivity, which is becoming essential for their businesses."
"Having the possibility to use the same hardware for both terrestrial and satellite communication is a real breakthrough. We can now offer connectivity with our hardware in places where it was never possible before and we can still benefit from the great throughput of the terrestrial networks to, for instance, do software updates," says Jan Willem Smeenk, Co-founder & Senior Solutions Architect, SODAQ.
About Skylo
Skylo Technologies is an NTN service provider based in Palo Alto, CA, offering a service that allows cellular modems and devices to connect directly over existing satellites. Devices connected over satellite are managed and served by Skylo's commercial NTN vRAN, featuring a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core. Skylo works with existing satellite operators, terrestrial mobile network operators, and device makers to provide subscribers with an anywhere, anytime connectivity solution that seamlessly roams between terrestrial and satellite networks. Skylo's focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows for machines at work across critical industries such as agriculture, maritime, logistics, mining, and others, in addition to mass-market consumer devices.