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The cellular and satellite IoT communications markets have experienced significant growth and are projected to continue expanding in the coming years. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report (2022), there were approximately 0.5 billion cellular IoT connections in 2016, with a projected increase to approximately 5.5 billion by 2028. Additionally, The Satellite IoT Communications Market report by Berg Insights predicts that the market will triple by 2025. The potential of combining these two technologies is highly appealing, offering gap-free global connectivity for IoT communications, even in previously uncovered areas.

In response to this potential, u-blox, a global provider of positioning and wireless communication technology and services, has partnered with ORBCOMM, a pioneer in IoT technology, to develop solutions that bridge the gap between terrestrial and satellite IoT communications markets. This collaboration aims to deliver highly-integrated, dual-connectivity solutions that enable IoT deployers to access global connectivity for their applications.

As part of this partnership, u-blox will integrate support for ORBCOMM’s satellite communication protocols into its UBX-R52/S52 LPWA modem SoC. This integration will result in a smaller, less complex chipset that offers dual connectivity at a lower cost. This chipset will serve as the foundation for future u-blox module products, enabling support for terrestrial LPWA and satellite IoT protocols and facilitating connected solutions across the globe.

The convergence of terrestrial and satellite technologies opens up opportunities for IoT deployments in remote locations, areas with poor cellular coverage, and isolated environments. Industries such as logistics, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, mining, livestock tracking, and industrial sensing can benefit from these solutions. The collaboration between ORBCOMM and u-blox will address the emerging demand for ubiquitous coverage, device simplicity, reliability, and longevity in IoT applications.

Through this partnership, u-blox aims to strengthen its leadership in asset tracking. The UBX-R52/S52 chipset, designed for IoT applications with long lifecycle needs, will expand the addressable market for IoT applications, including those operating in remote locations without reliable cellular coverage. This integration of satellite and cellular protocols has the potential to unlock new possibilities for IoT solutions across various industries, catering to the evolving needs of IoT deployers worldwide.

The post Capturing the Potential: u-blox and ORBCOMM Partner to Develop Solutions for Convergence of Terrestrial and Satellite IoT Communications Markets appeared first on satProviders.