Hybrid Connectivity: Leveraging Wireless and Satellite Technology to Meet IoT Demand

There seems to be no limit to the continued escalation of IoT implementations in commercial and industrial applications. The thirst for information and insights required for improved monitoring and management of complex operations and systems is spurring the industry to expand existing network capacities and capabilities, and squeeze out more bandwidth to meet the demand, while keeping a wary eye on cost. Price, reliability, and bandwidth are important in all IoT deployments, yet they are even bigger factors when considering IoT services in remote areas such as mines, construction sites, offshore energy and distributed power generation systems, and oceangoing vessels. Wireless networks—from 2G through 4G—have been the infrastructure of choice for most providers, and for good reason. These networks typically provide higher bandwidth and lower latency than satellite technology, but the throughout and signal strength diminish substantially when the implementation is far from a densely populated area. The problem becomes more complicated in maritime use. Once a ship leaves port, wireless connectivity is not only unavailable in transit, but the service connection in the next port is often through a completely different carrier. In addition, the typical wireless contract for maritime operators mirrors the consumer-use model based on flat rates and fair use (throttling after exceeding preset limits) which are not always compatible with business needs.