Heavy industrial sectors like mining, forestry, construction, transportation, and manufacturing are on the verge of a major transformation. These industries face increasing challenges, such as stricter worksite safety requirements, the need to minimize downtime, and a shrinking workforce. Consequently, there's a pressing need for digital transformation that connects people, data, and equipment.
Picture yourself residing on a remote island with a small population. Given the limited business prospectson your island, the likelihood of any Communication Service Provider (CSP) investing in terrestrial telecommunication infrastructure on the island is extremely low. The absence of Internet broadband can lead to educational challenges, limited access to information, economic disadvantages, vital healthcare limitations, social isolation, reduced innovation, and many more issues, all of which would have a detrimental effect on your community. This scenario embodies the essence of the “digital divide.”
On September 19, 2023, AST SpaceMobile announced a historic milestone: the successful completion of the first-ever 5G connection for both voice and data transmission between an ordinary, unmodified smartphone and a space satellite. The company's engineers showcased this space-based 5G connectivity by initiating a call from Maui, Hawaii, United States, to a Vodafone engineer situated in Madrid, Spain. This remarkable feat was accomplished using AT&T's Band 5/850 Megahertz (MHz) spectrum and AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 (BW3) test satellite—the largest-ever commercial communications array deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Imagine for a moment that you’re a farmer working in a remote area of your country where there is little to no population. In this scenario, you would be far from any sprawling cities and, therefore, adequate Terrestrial Network (TN) infrastructure for device connectivity. The problem is that reliable connectivity is necessary when you need to monitor the condition of your crops, water supply, and tractors. This is where satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services are a game-changer, and these applications don’t just apply to the agriculture industry. Any work site located in a remote/rural area, such as the mining, oil & gas, and fleet management markets, could all benefit from space-based IoT communications. In this post, we list 13 companies that innovation leaders should assess as they look to implement satellite IoT solutions into their operations.
Through vigorous standardization efforts, The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has laid the groundwork for satellite-based 5G connectivity using Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). Leveraging satellites enables Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide broadband coverage to those tough-to-reach areas, such as remote construction sites or crop fields for agriculture, as well as in underserved regions. As will be spelled out in this post, 5G from space can even help save lives by providing low-latency broadband to users in emergency scenarios when terrestrial networks are unavailable. To capitalize on this US$18 billion market opportunity that NTN mobile presents, everyone from smartphone manufacturers to Satellite Communication (SatCom) service providers, and from chipset vendors to network operators, have been busy integrating satellite communications into their 5G solutions and striking numerous partnerships to strengthen their offerings.
Satellite backhaul can be a “communications enabler” for millions of people worldwide living in rural regions, where mobile connectivity services are challenging to deliver. Whether it’s a small rural community where people live and work or a remotely located enterprise job site, people need connectivity. In fact, the World Bank estimates that emerging countries can generate a 1.38% increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for every 10% increase in broadband service penetration. While terrestrial solutions, such as fixed telco and wireless backhaul, are commercially viable in densely populated, urban areas, these connectivity solutions can struggle to be viable in many rural environments. A better option for Communication Service Providers (CSPs) in these scenarios is satellite backhaul due to its unique advantages.
In the technology space, it’s vital that your organization stay on top of prevailing trends in your respective industry. This extends to keeping tabs on the competition or, if you’re seeking a solution provider, weighing your options. That’s why ABI Research released its 40 Technology Companies To Watch In 2023 whitepaper to better understand which tech firms are winning in terms of innovation and implementation of their technology products/software.
More than 50,000 technology innovators and decision makers rely on ABI Research for deep insight and analysis of transformational technologies and key markets. In addition, we also provide an impartial and expert perspective on the companies that are shaping these technologies and industries.
According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association’s (GSMA) The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2022 report, 5% of the world’s population, or 400 million people, still do not have access to a mobile broadband network. The key to bridging this digital divide is Satellite Communications (SatCom) service providers, who provide Internet access to historically unserved and underserved regions (e.g., rural areas and developing countries) via satellite constellations in space.