Astrocast provides Soracom customers access to global Satellite IoT connectivity

Astrocast provides Soracom customers with access to a global IoT satellite connection
Astrocast, a leading global IoT nanosatellite network operator, and Soracom, a global provider of advanced IoT connectivity, today announced a partnership to deploy the Astrocast Satellite IoT (SatIoT) solution on the Soracom platform.
This collaboration enables Soracom to offer integrated IoT connectivity options that include satellite and cellular connectivity to integrators and end customers. With 85% of the world having zero mobile coverage, Astrocast’s SatIoT solution will provide an important component to Soracom’s 20,000+ customers worldwide; with devices in places where mobile coverage does not reach. Organizations can access Astrocast SatIoT by subscribing to the Soracom platform and benefit from seamless and secure integration with an optional cloud service. They will only be able to use the Soracom or SatIoT connectivity options. Astrocast’s cost-effective global SatIoT enables Soracom customers to get more value from their IoT investments. A variety of organizations and use cases – of all sizes and types – will benefit from SatIoT connectivity. This range includes smart farming, preventive maintenance and asset tracking.

Requirements for satellite IoT solutions
When Soracom was looking for a satellite IoT provider, several factors were important. In particular, this includes the global coverage, the cost model, the energy efficiency of the devices that will connect to the SatIoT network, and most importantly the ease of operation of the Astrocast SatIoT platform and its integration into the Soracom solution. . Global coverage: From truly remote locations to objects in transit, SatIoT must provide global connectivity to complement existing cellular network capabilities.
Affordability: IoT operations are extremely cost sensitive. Whether a company is considering deploying tens of devices or hundreds of thousands of devices, small differences in price, performance, and lifetime will make a big difference in return on investment (ROI).
Power consumption: The efficiency of power consumption has a direct impact on the battery life of the device. For devices that are often located in remote and inaccessible locations, it is important to maximize battery life, as replacements or repairs are often impractical and unaffordable. A low-power SatIoT solution can extend the life of the device – batteries typically last five to ten years.
Two-way communication: Two-way communication is essential to support new IoT applications and enables changes in the way devices work. For example, the company can send a short message to change the operating parameters of the device – reducing the number of hours a day for which the temperature record is taken from one hour to just twice a day, reducing energy consumption and increasing battery capacity. life. .
Effective integration: Ensuring the commercial viability of SatIoT on the Soracom platform requires seamless integration that ensures organizations can transparently access IoT data regardless of the underlying network. Astrocast’s proven API enables rapid interface development and enables Soracom to add SatIoT connectivity for its customers.