Unique combination of S-band satellite service with LoRa protocol unleashes potential for mobile and remote connectivity for millions of devices
DUBLIN, May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EchoStar Mobile Limited, an agile, innovative mobile satellite services provider owned by EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS), today announced the launch of an early adopter program for pan-European satellite-based LoRa Internet of Things (IoT) service and a white paper about accessing the benefits of massive IoT. Under the program, participants in sectors such as transport and logistics, agriculture, oil and gas and utilities will test a satellite-enabled connectivity solution that leverages the LoRa (meaning "Long Range") low power protocol for connecting "things" to the internet. The white paper, entitled Satellite-based LoRa Unlocks Europe-wide IoT, explores use cases and how space-based connectivity can help streamline, automate and enhance IoT networks.
Telemaco Melia, vice president and general manager of EchoStar Mobile, said: "LoRa connectivity makes up 45% of today's global IoT networks; it's perfect for connecting low-powered 'things,' yet its reliance on terrestrial connectivity restricts its usefulness. Replacing fiber and cable with satellite connectivity, the EchoStar Mobile solution is the first real-time, bi-directional LoRa service with mobile and remote capabilities. Accelerating the adoption of massive IoT, our program already spans more than 10,000 devices, with the service expected to scale to millions of devices in Europe alone."
A low-power networking protocal, LoRa is ideal for connecting battery-powered devices; however, until now, its use has been limited to receiving data from immobile devices in areas with terrestrial connectivity. The EchoStar Mobile solution allows sensors to roam freely in real-time while sending and receiving information. It makes use of the company's licensed S-band spectrum and capacity on the EchoStar XXI geostationary satellite with a LoRa-enabled module that integrates easily into IoT devices. Compatible with terrestrial ISM-band LoRaWAN networks, the module incorporates the compact LR1120 chipset from Semtech making it highly portable and capable of roaming anywhere within the satellite footprint, which spans the European continent.
Mr. Melia continued: "Big data is the new currency in a world of accelerating change. The rapid collection, processing and management of data is vital for optimising industrial processes and changing society through innovation, whether by supporting the wider development of Smart Cities or the transition to renewable energy. Achieving the full potential of IoT means accessing data from thousands of machines, factories or distribution facilities, however remote, and bringing it to a central point for analysis and insight. The EchoStar Mobile satellite-enabled LoRa network enables industries to use IoT in innovative ways that can transform their operations."
The EchoStar Mobile LoRa early adopter program will run through 2022 with commercial availability expected around the end of the year.
To access the white paper or request information about participating in the early adopter program, visit the ebsite.
About EchoStar Mobile
EchoStar Mobile Limited is an agile, innovative mobile satellite services provider that seeks to provide organisations with better value, productivity, and operational safety via its market disruptive approach to connectivity solutions.
EchoStar Mobile, a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, is an Irish company with commercial operations headquarters based in the UK, a data centre in Griesheim, Germany, and a converged satellite and terrestrial network covering the UK, Europe and Scandinavia. For further information, visit www.EchoStarMobile.com.
About EchoStar Corporation
EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit www.EchoStar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.
About the LoRa Alliance
The LoRa Alliance is an open, nonprofit association that has become one of the largest and fastest-growing alliances in the technology sector since its inception in 2015. Its members closely collaborate and share experiences to promote and drive the success of the LoRaWAN standard as the leading open global standard for secure, carrier-grade IoT LPWAN connectivity. With the technical flexibility to address a broad range of IoT applications, both static and mobile, and a certification program to guarantee interoperability, LoRaWAN has already been deployed by major mobile network operators globally, with continuing wide expansion into 2020 and beyond. For more information, visit https://lora-alliance.org/.
