International connectivity enabler BICS is offering service providers integrated IoT satellite connections through a deal it has signed with Skylo, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) operator.
The partnership will allow BICS to leverage Skylo’s network made up of geostationary satellites covering 13.7m square miles of land and sea, for direct NB-IoT-to-satellite connectivity for its enterprise customers.
Skylo will also use BICS’ IPX solution to reach a telco audience, delivering IoT NTN connectivity to enterprise customers of partner mobile operators and MVNOs.
BICS and Skylo customers across the enterprise and telco markets can benefit from a 3GPP-compliant plug-and-play IoT solution and the ability to roam outside the device’s home country. BICS’ SIM for Things enables customers to easily launch, manage, and monetise international IoT applications, via one SIM and one platform.
“As we move further into 2024, IoT innovation will continue to grow, and the demands on the technology to deliver seamless connectivity will push telcos to look upwards,” said Tarun Gupta, CPO and co-founder of Skylo.
“Satellite connections have proven themselves when it comes to reliability: less susceptible to failure from weather, natural disaster, or war, than other types of connectivity, and they provide ubiquitous coverage to 99% of the world’s surface. Together with BICS’ IPX network, we now offer a one-stop-shop for telcos and enterprises looking to roll out IoT solutions to their customers.”
Luc Vidal-Madjar, head of IoT and M2M business at BICS, added: “Skylo gives us a faster route to global coverage, and needing fewer satellites which last longer in orbit than their low-orbit counterparts. Together, we are creating opportunities for both network operators and enterprises.”
