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Converging Satellite and Cellular Connectivity to Supercharge IoT Solutions

Imagine living without connectivity for a moment. Imagine not having access to all vital information that connected products are providing us. Especially for businesses and the public sector, the access to connectivity is crucial, and when it comes to critical infrastructure, limited access to data can have severe consequences.


Unexpected coverage gaps can occur even in densely populated regions. But enterprises and public institutions often deploy IoT technologies in remote areas and require maximum service reliability. By integrating cellular and satellite connectivity, companies ensure continuous access to vital information, facilitating informed decision-making. For every enterprise, particularly those with critical operations, connectivity is non-negotiable, as failures can cost millions and, in the public sector, potentially affect human lives.

To address this need, Deutsche Telekom IoT made an important step to converge cellular and satellite connectivity and launched IoT Satellite Connect in cooperation with Intelsat. The convergence and the possibility to manage the networks from a single platform reduces the complexity of connectivity management and enhances the service quality.

The convergence of satellite and cellular connectivity means countless opportunities. Whether it’s mobile connectivity in the Amazonian Forest, tracking of shipments on the Pacific or connecting vineyards in a rural area of Spain – many doors open with satellite connectivity. Deutsche Telekom IoT supports multiple use cases with reliable, global coverage.

Windfarm safety

Windmill parks are subject to strict air safety regulations, requiring warning lights at night to enable aircraft to pass safely. When offshore, those same windmills often have corresponding regulations to not have lights on when they aren’t needed. Satellite IoT enables air traffic data to inform the operation of lighting regardless of how near or far offshore a turbine is located, minimizing energy usage and the environmental impact of lighting.

Solar park operations

Solar parks have a different challenge: managing daily operational data and critical data in rural areas without continuous and minimum connectivity. In these cases, Deutsche Telekom IoT deploys Satellite Connect, sending critical data via satellite and regular data via the available cellular network. Satellite and cellular connectivity are used in sync and as backup to each other, providing overall connectivity with inherent additional resiliency.

Water management

While in many cases water levels and flood risk can be monitored through cellular IoT connectivity, the situation looks differently in remote locations or where cellular connectivity is undependable. With converged cellular and satellite IoT connectivity, sensors all along a waterway can consistently relay information on rivers and ground water levels, canals, and other water repositories. This means enhanced safety and better trending to allow more proactive engagement by authorities in cases of heavy rainfall or floods.

Critical infrastructure monitoring

While many use cases help to improve the efficiency of companies, use cases in the public sector often increase the safety of critical infrastructure and human lives. There, IoT Satellite Connect adds network resiliency to guarantee coverage and data transmission even when a primary communication channel isn’t available. Consistently implementing IoT along entire pipelines and across power-distribution grids allows operators to predict maintenance needs before they become a problem and ensure energy needs are met.

Deutsche Telekom IoT is partnering with Intelsat to leverage the full potential of connectivity and provide customers with an affordable, yet high-quality solution for always-on connectivity.

Visit Deutsche Telekom IoT at stand 89 in hall 1 to discover more.

Pedro Mier

Pedro Mier holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineer ing from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, MBA from ESADE and PADE from IESE. He is currently President of AMETIC (Association of Electronics, Information Technology and Telecommunications Companies of Spain), Shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of TRYO Aerospace & Electronics, Board Member of the Premo Group and Committee of CTTC. member of Space Angels Network and Member of the Sc ientific Advisory