This Company Has Launched The First-Ever 5G Standard Low-Earth Orbit Satellite

Sateliot, a Barcelona-based startup, has launched what is being touted as the world’s first 5G standard low-Earth orbit satellite, aimed at democratizing access to the Internet of Things (IoT).

The satellite, called “The GroundBreaker,” is the first of 250 nanosatellites that will form a constellation to communicate with terrestrial cell towers and address gaps in data networks around the world.

The GroundBreaker is designed to enable seamless switching between terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G networks without the need for any additional hardware. Users can keep using their existing sim cards and mobile operators thanks to Sateliot’s standard roaming agreements.

The satellite weighs only 22 pounds (10 kilograms) but can cover an area three times the size of Texas and completes a full orbit of the Earth in approximately 90 minutes. In addition, the satellite has an onboard module that allows for direct NB-IoT connection for any 5G device upgraded to Rel 17 NTN. This means that a single satellite can provide global coverage and retrieve essential information from the surface for commercial usage, impacting the efficiency of various industries.

Sateliot’s goal is to deliver connectivity everywhere and to any use case, leaving behind the idea that satellites are expensive and only for specific applications. The technology will extend NB-IoT telecom operator’s coverage, allowing end-users to connect to terrestrial or satellite networks using unmodified standard 5G devices.

The company aims to generate €1 billion in revenues and a €370 million EBITDA by 2026, with a sales pipeline already exceeding €1.2 billion.

Sateliot’s groundbreaking launch has the potential to democratize access to the IoT and address gaps in data networks globally. The innovative technology enables seamless switching between terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G networks, and Sateliot’s standard roaming agreements allow users to keep using their existing sim cards and mobile operators.

To deliver connectivity everywhere, Sateliot is poised to revolutionize various industries, impacting productivity, savings, and, ultimately, growing GDPs.