Is the IoT in space about to take off?

#News(General) [ via IoTForIndiaGroup ]

Space-based IoT networks
It’s long been a goal to use satellites to provide simple, low-power, low-cost, IoT-friendly networks for remote users outside of the coverage areas of standard terrestrial networks. But due to the distances involved and other factors, traditional approaches to space-based IoT networks have tended to be expensive, power-hungry, and complex, limiting the economic benefit of the technology.

That hasn’t stopped companies from trying, though. Last month, cloud leader Amazon Web Services (AWS) struck a deal with satellite provider Iridium to “bring internet connectivity to the whole planet.” The deal calls for them to develop a satellite-based network called CloudConnect, designed specifically for IoT applications.

Similarly, earlier this month, U.S.-based Orbcomm which provides satellite IoT and machine-to-machine communications services, announced it will work with Asia Pacific Navigation Telecommunications Satellite (APNTS) to provide its services in China.

Also in October, SemTech and Alibaba Cloud agreed to develop an IoT network in China using small satellites in low Earth orbit — reportedly just two of many companies looking to build such networks. The IOTEE Project (Internet of Things Everywhere on Earth), for example, has been funded by the European Union to provide IoT LPWA services from space.

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