Building the business case for satellite IoT

The Operational IoT market continues to expand as organisations across the world imagine an extraordinary range of opportunities to leverage sensor technology.

With the arrival of robust, proven, cost-effective satellite connections, the true potential of these IoT applications can be realised. With estimates suggesting there will be tens of millions of satellite IoT devices in use by 2030, access to reliable, global coverage is now enabling new opportunities for systems integrators (SIs) across the world.

It is now time for SIs to build a business case for Satellite IoT according to Eric Ménard, Vice President Strategy and Business, Astrocast.

Market expectation

Satellite connectivity may have been available for years, but the market has been waiting for a satellite connection designed specifically for widescale IoT deployment. Many of the key target applications, from agriculture to supply chain, do not require the continuous or real-time communication associated with high-cost legacy satellite connectivity. These solutions play a critical role but they are too expensive and power-hungry to support a compelling business case for most Operational IoT deployments.

Building confidence

When a deployment may extend to tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of devices, small differences in performance and lifetime will fundamentally change the return on investment (ROI). The business case becomes even more sensitive when extended to remote areas without terrestrial network coverage and require satellite connectivity. How can the sensors be deployed to remote locations cost-effectively? What is the cost of satellite transmission? How long must the battery last on a sensor to ensure the ROI is not compromised? Plus, how can the data be collected and used to drive tangible commercial benefits?

Even before exploring the technology, SIs need robust due diligence to ensure confidence in the business credibility and model of the satellite provider. Ensuring excellent satellite coverage, including across international water, is essential. Business longevity is also fundamental for deployments that could be in the field for a decade.

Proof of concept

Only once the foundations of a business case have been confirmed should an SI make the investment in a technology assessment. For many SIs looking to expand existing IoT solutions, speed of integration is an important consideration. From the quality of documentation to the availability of training, the way a satellite company works with its SIs to ease the integration of SatIoT into the existing IoT solution set can make a significant difference in time to market.

For the past few years, a number of innovative SIs have been testing the latest generation of cost-effective SatIoT connectivity to determine the viability and requirements of an industrial-scale deployment. They have built prototypes and invested in field testing. The process has highlighted the importance of ultra-low battery consumption to minimise the need for replacements in situ. Typically, a business case may only stand up if the battery lasts five to ten years. In some locations, the Satellite IoT solution can be integrated with a solar panel, overcoming the need for a dedicated battery.

SIs have also worked closely with SatIoT providers to optimise antenna design and ensure the antenna is both reliable and easy to integrate. A small, flat antenna may be essential but additional questions will arise specific to an area of deployment.

The availability of bidirectional connectivity also provides SIs with a future-proofed solution. Updates can be downloaded remotely to the sensors as required – for example, if a customer wants to change the frequency of data recording.

More News
2 days ago
How the financial sector can win the cyber war
It’s no secret that cybersecurity has a significant skills shortage. Research from Swimlane shows that 82 per cent of organisations take three months or longer to fill a cybersecurity role, with 34 per cent reporting it takes seven months or more.
2 days ago
ASSA ABLOY Door Group hails fire door inspections
Door Group, a division of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, is calling for a higher calibre of fire door inspections this Fire Door Safety Week, after research found a third (32%) of the British public would not report a problem with a fire door, putting lives at risk.
2 days ago
The most common causes of fire in workplace revealed
Each year, there are thousands of workplace fires recorded across the UK, many of which could have been avoided if the correct fire safety procedures had been followed, and the right passive fire protection products had been in place.
3 days ago
Abloy UK reinforces importance of access control compliance
Abloy UK has reinforced the importance of fire door compliance after new government statistics revealed a sharp and shocking increase in the number of fires in England.
3 days ago
Nearly 1/5 UK employees feel undervalued at work
A new report has found that almost a fifth of UK employees, around 5.5 million people, feel undervalued at work.
3 days ago
Optibac Probiotics selects Fresh Relevance for cross-channel experiences
Fresh Relevance, a Dotdigital company, has been selected by Optibac Probiotics for its personalisation platform to power personalised experiences for its customers across emails and the website.
3 days ago
Snom Technology listed in Highly Trusted Companies 2023 study
In the ‘Highly Trusted Companies 2023’ study, Snom Technology, experts in the telecommunications industry, has been recognised as an outstanding company that customers in Germany and beyond can trust.
4 days ago
Cradlepoint 5G outdoor adaptor re-designed
Cradlepoint, experts in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions has announced the re-designed outdoor Cradlepoint W1855-5GC Wideband Adaptor.
4 days ago
Zyxel Networks and Intec Micros scale Snowdon for charity
A group of eleven employees from Zyxel Networks and distributor Intec Micros recently took part in a six-hour hike up Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowden) in Wales to raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital.
5 days ago
UK IT professionals flag audio quality as gap in hybrid work success
Shure, a manufacturer of audio solutions, commissioned market research firm, IDC, to conduct a study that investigates the hurdles organisations are facing as they implement hybrid working.

Login / Sign up