Reliable IoT connectivity shouldn't end where cellular towers do. With the rise of hybrid satellite and cellular solutions, global IoT coverage is becoming a reality—unlocking massive potential for industries operating in remote or hard-to-reach regions.
Vodafone IoT's new partnership with satellite network provider Skylo signals a growing trend in the industry: seamless integration of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) with narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) to bring consistent, low-power coverage anywhere on Earth. So what does this mean for industrial IoT operators, and how can technology platforms like IoTKinect help accelerate adoption?
Until recently, IoT deployments had to choose between satellite coverage—with its global reach but higher latency and costs—or terrestrial cellular connections, which are affordable and fast, but geographically limited. New NTN NB-IoT developments aim to bring the best of both worlds.
Key benefits of hybrid satellite-cellular IoT:
According to the GSMA, NB-IoT and LTE-M will account for 51% of all LPWAN connections by 2028. Integrating NTN will supercharge that growth by closing rural and remote connectivity gaps.
Industries relying on uninterrupted data—no matter where their assets are—stand to benefit most from this evolution:
IoTKinect’s EdgeKinect Core platform already supports multi-network IoT SIMs capable of switching between multiple terrestrial providers. As satellite integration becomes commercially available, interoperability with NTN networks will be the next evolution.
While LoRaWAN excels in low-power, localized networks, NTN NB-IoT fills in the gaps when no gateway or terrestrial infrastructure is available. In fact, a hybrid deployment strategy often combines both:
Canada’s vast geography makes terrestrial-only IoT impractical for many sectors. As one of the largest countries by landmass with a notoriously sparse population density in the north, hybrid technologies like NTN NB-IoT are not just future-proof—they are necessary.
IoTKinect is actively exploring satellite-enabled extensions to our edge platforms, ensuring that our clients in agriculture, mining, and transportation can operate without compromise, regardless of location.
Navigating the future of hybrid IoT connectivity means preparing your infrastructure today. Companies that adopt modular, edge-ready platforms with flexible connectivity will be first to deploy scalable, cost-effective solutions anywhere on the planet.
IoTKinect’s solutions are already optimized for this leap in technology. Our IoT SIMs support multi-provider networks, and our edge platforms are ready for satellite uplink integration. Whether you're deploying a pilot in the prairies or scaling in the Arctic Circle, we’ve got you covered.
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