Editorial | NB 5G-IoT is the next big thing in the space industry

Over the past decade, we have been witnessing a revolution in the space industry. Significant technological advances such as the rapid adoption of Cubesat technology, reusable rockets, and the rapid development of microprocessors have lowered the entry barrier, making the market more accessible for newer and smaller players.

Older companies still have a majority market share, but it’s worth noting that these giants still face significant (and costly) challenges for others to catch up. The difficulties in locating satellites, as well as the astronomical costs of manufacture and launch, have made it a constant struggle for profits. Compounding this is the uncertainty about a successful launch.

To offset these costs, legacy companies relied on proprietary protocols for their systems, making them virtually inaccessible to anyone who wasn’t a big spender, such as governments, broadcast networks and other giants. However, this is rapidly shifting thanks to the rise of smartphones, nano-satellites, and 5G technology.

Shake satellite TV

The real game-changer for the entire market now is NB 5G-IoT satellite communications, which will allow 5G technology to be widely adopted. Current estimates indicate that the number of global 5G subscriptions will exceed 4.4 billion by 2027and revenue from satellite communication for the Internet of Things is expected to grow Up to 14 times faster revenue from conventional satellites.

It is expected that startups will take into account 20% of total industry revenue by 2026. This is an impressive part, given that most of these startups haven’t been around for 5-10 years.

With smartphones and Internet of Things technology, there has been a shift in focus on satellite networks: the search for better ways to connect to the world. In this case, “better” means developing a new approach to satellite towers (or non-terrestrial networks, NTNs). The introduction of 5G protocols in telecommunications is opening a gateway to near-real-time data transmission and better quality communications, and this connection is now available to anyone with an IoT device.

With more technological advancements, 5G satellite communications will be a huge boon for both first responders and the average cell phone user. Instead of relying solely on expensive proprietary technology that often still has coverage gaps, those in remote or disaster areas will be able to reliably obtain high-quality coverage from 5G-IoT-equipped satellite constellations without hardware or software requirements. Specialized.

NTNs that support 5G-IoT satellite communications over Low Earth Orbit (LEO) are also rapidly gaining broadband support, signaling the start of a new era.

5G-IoT satellite startups aim for widespread adoption

Two major players have already shown stark support for this move towards a better connected world.

3GPP, which is leading the way in setting global communications standards, has set out a new scenario in 2021 where LEO nanosatellite networks will provide IoT services worldwide. This was approved by all the members, which laid the foundation for better cooperation between all the actors in the field of communications.

The European Space Agency (ESA) also recently endorsed the NB 5G-IoT LEO NTN technology. This seal of quality indicates that the ESA is confident that IoT devices can perform as well under NTN connectivity as with traditional cell phone towers. In some cases, such as natural disasters, this endorsement can actually indicate better jobs due to the increased connectivity in those emergency situations.

The support of these two entities, along with the upcoming formal regulatory support, paves the way for creating cheaper, more accessible and highly scalable IoT adoption. Businesses and organizations are quickly realizing this, and they are all looking for ways to be the first to benefit from bringing 5G-IoT into space.

Space is the future of communication

By 2029, the global satellite-enabled IoT market is expected to reach Nearly $13.7 billiona compound annual growth rate of 12.10%And Statista estimates there will be more 29 billion devices connected to the Internet of Things By then.

IoT networks facilitate faster data transfer. While traditional satellite networks can easily transmit terabytes of data, the need for large and expensive satellite equipment has hampered us to achieve this level of connectivity.

Satellite companies and small start-ups are revolutionizing the way the satellite communications industry is developing, and exciting innovations are completely changing the course of the market as a whole.

LEO satellite towers help the space industry become a safer and more attractive investment while lowering previously high barriers to entry. In addition, narrowband 5G-IoT NTNs open the doors to the more rapid and rapid diffusion of 5G technology, which is the basis for creating a highly connected world.

In short, 5G-IoT will undoubtedly be the next big thing in the space industry.

James Sanbera He is the founder and CEO of satelitea Spanish startup developing the LEO constellation to connect IoT devices and smartphones.