IoT & M2M Connectivity

Taking our customers terrestrial applications and
making them work anywhere on Earth.

We design and build Satellite IoT devices complete with airtime and lifetime support.
If you need to capture sensor data from remote places – deserts, forests, oceans, mountain
tops – we can help.

SEE ALL IOT & M2M PRODUCTS

Many Satellites Flying Over Earth As Seen From Space

Satellite IoT: Ubiquitous Coverage

Reliable and continuous connectivity is crucial for the success of IoT deployments as big data is at its core. But with LTE coverage gaps throughout America, 75% of businesses face connectivity issues during IoT project trials. Even excluding Alaska, 11% of the nation’s road miles lack 4G LTE coverage, and 16% of square miles have no LTE or only subsidized coverage. With satellite IoT, previously unreachable or unmonitored assets, such as pipelines, shipping containers or wildlife can be connected, monitored and managed in real-time, ensuring greater visibility and control.

Ground Control specialize in helping businesses build and extend their network reach. From hardware and airtime to remote device and data management, we have the solutions you need to ensure your project runs smoothly.

Selecting the right Satellite IoT Hardware & Airtime

These questions are aimed at helping you narrow down your options, but if you require additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help.

 

How data intensive is your application?
Can your device control data?
How time critical is the receipt of your data?
Where are your assets and are they mobile?
What level of data security is required?
Low Volume

E.g. telemetry, sensor data. A few bytes to a few kilobytes.

For low volumes of data, messaging services are highly cost effective. (If you’re not familiar with messaging services, it’s not dissimilar to how SMS works but over satellite). You should investigate Iridium SBD and Inmarsat IDP for critical applications, or cubesats.

Medium Volume

E.g. audio, images, log files. Kilobytes to a few megabytes.

For medium volume use cases, you should consider Iridium Certus 100 (which offers both IP- and message-based options) and Inmarsat BGAN M2M.

High Volume

E.g. video. Megabytes to gigabytes.

If you need to transmit high volumes of IoT data, it’s worth exploring Starlink or VSAT solutions.

Tab 1 Asset Data Volume Graph
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YES, MY DEVICE DOES

 
 
Great, edge computing, reporting by exception and condition-based logging will help reduce the amount of data you need to transmit, potentially opening up messaging services for your application.

Cross icon

NO, MY DEVICE DOESN’T

 
 
You could consider a communications device which has edge processing capability such as the RockREMOTE and the RockFLEET.

Low & Medium Latency

If it’s essential that your data is delivered in close to real-time, you need to consider the network maturity, visibility and latency. Iridium-powered devices have the lowest latency and the broadest visibility. Inmarsat BGAN M2M and ScadaSAT by TSAT also offer very low latency and very high reliability of data delivery.

High Latency

If you can wait for your data (i.e. store and forward), you can optimize your delivery, and look at networks that have fewer satellites in orbit (newer LEO constellations like Swarm, for example).

National Critical Infrastructure

If you operate national critical infrastructure, you may need something with zero reliance on public infrastructure. Have a look at the SCADASat, which gives you a private satellite network.

Tab 3 Asset latency graph
Fixed

You’ve got more options as your antenna can be pointed at a fixed point in the sky, opening up geostationary services like Inmarsat. If your location is heavily wooded and hilly, a low earth orbit service like Iridium may be better as satellites are passing constantly overhead.

Mobile

You either need an auto-pointing device to connect with a geostationary satellite (such as Inmarsat) or – and it’s usually a better option – an omni-directional antenna which speaks to a satellite constellation in low earth orbit (such as Iridium) which will retain constant contact with your things as they move.

Polar

Only established low earth orbit satellite constellations work well in the polar regions so you’re looking at Iridium.

Tab 4 Asset
Default

Data security is a priority but not necessarily a concern. Satellite data traffic is already relatively secure meeting most military and government security standards. But you may want to consider a public static LPS and/or completely configurable firewalls, to assist your data getting from A to B.

Mid-Level

If your application requires higher levels of security, it’s worth exploring data encryption options. You can encrypt data prior to transmission, send over satellite link and then decrypt once landed. With Ground Control you can also set up a VPN from our data centre direct to your server, creating a secure, virtual tunnel.

Private Network

If you require a completely private, secure network have a look at the SCADASat. This service offers customers their own dedicated frequency on the space segment – an extremely secure solution with relatively low OPEX costs. For Inmarsat and Iridium traffic, you can consider MPLS installation or leased-lines offering a private network solution.

Sat-IoT-Security

IT’S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3.

Working with Ground Control

Whether you want to self-serve from beginning to end, or tap into Ground Control’s 20-plus years’ of experience, we’ve got you covered.

2. Our trusted satellite network partners

Iridium

Through Iridium we're able to offer both SBD (Short Burst Data) and Certus services, delivering satellite IoT connectivity for devices and applications that require low-bandwidth data transfer.

Inmarsat

BGAN M2M provides reliable and secure data transfer, with low latency and high data speeds. Ideal for IoT applications that require real-time monitoring and control, serving customers in the maritime, aviation, and enterprise sectors.

Eutelsat

With its high-speed data transfer capabilities, Eutelsat Ka-band is ideal for IoT applications that require large amounts of data transfer, such as video streaming, and can support multiple IoT devices simultaneously.

3. Manage Devices and Data Remotely

Our comprehensive data and device management platform, Cloudloop, enables you to securely manage all devices across deployments and Iridium and Inmarsat networks, within a single window. With the platform, you can effortlessly activate and manage assets, gain valuable insights to optimise costs and identify issues early. We also offer well documented REST APIs, so you can ensure seamless integration with existing workflows.

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Cloudloop Screenshots for Navy BG

Need help expanding your IoT application?

That's what we're here for. With offices in the UK and US, and over 20 years' experience delivering satellite and cellular connectivity, we can help you make the right choice for your requirements and budget.

Complete the form and one of our team will reply with objective, expert advice.