What is IoT via satellite?
Satellite IoT (Internet of Things) refers to the use of satellite communication networks to connect sensors, asset trackers, monitoring devices, and remote equipment that operate beyond the reach of terrestrial cellular (4G/5G) infrastructure. Where a terrestrial IoT device sends data via a cellular base station, a satellite IoT device transmits a small packet — typically a few bytes to a few kilobytes — via a satellite overhead, enabling global coverage including oceans, polar regions, deserts, and remote industrial sites.
Key satellite IoT constellations
Iridium SBD (Short Burst Data): The established standard for maritime and polar IoT, transmitting packets up to 1,960 bytes via the 66-satellite Iridium LEO constellation. Used by weather buoys, Arctic research equipment, vessel tracking, and aviation black box recorders. Globalstar SPOT and Simplex: 24-satellite LEO constellation used for global asset tracking with 150-byte messages. Orbcomm OG2: IoT-focused LEO constellation for logistics, container tracking, and utility monitoring. Kinéis (France): 25 nanosatellites providing global IoT with 192-byte messages, frequency: VHF. Swarm Technologies (SpaceX-acquired): 150 SpaceBEE satellites providing the lowest-cost LEO IoT service at under $5/month per device.
Market applications
Satellite IoT enables: fleet tracking for trucks on transcontinental routes without cellular; container monitoring for reefer (refrigerated) cargo on ocean shipping; pipeline integrity monitoring across thousands of kilometres of remote pipeline; precision agriculture soil moisture and weather stations in rural fields; fishery monitoring (vessel monitoring systems, VMS); and environmental monitoring (avalanche sensors, permafrost stations, ocean buoys). The addressable market is estimated at 150 million connected devices by 2030.