Sateliot partners with Comfone and enables 480 MNOs to Provide Worldwide 5G Satellite Connectivity with Roaming

September 26, 2023

Sateliot, the first company to operate a low-Earth orbit nanosatellite constellation with 5G standards, extends its network range with a key partnership with Comfone, leading provider of mobile connectivity and roaming services. This operation enables over 480 MNOs and MVNOs worldwide to connect with a standard roaming agreement to Sateliot’s 5G NB-IoT nanosatellite constellation, paving the way to massive IoT adoption everywhere on the planet.

With the agreement between Sateliot and Comfone, MNOs and MVNOs will be able to cover the entire planet, whereas today cellular coverage reaches only 15% of Earth's surface. Comfone’s Key2roam Platform Services comprising IPX, Data Clearing and the Key2roam Roaming Hub facilitates the integration between Sateliot and MNOs as well as MVNOs. This also enables IoT device owners to send and receive 5G data anywhere in the world, regardless of the SIM card they are using, seamlessly from space cell towers within Sateliot’s non-terrestrial network (NTN).

Furthermore, as a full GSMA member, Sateliot has the capacity to sign standard roaming agreements with any telecom operator. With these two factors into account, MNOs and MVNOs can increase their Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) by enabling NB-IoT satellite access to their existing customers as well as generating additional revenues with new customers and new use cases.

So far, Sateliot has forged agreements with many mobile and virtual mobile operators in several geographies around the globe that benefit from a rapid integration with Sateliot’s Non-Terrestrial Network through the Comfone Key2roam Platform. Starting in 2024, Sateliot will be serving a portfolio of clients valued at US $1 Billion, formed by more than 500 companies from 30 countries who applied in their pioneer Early Adopter Program.

Users will be able to get 5G IoT satellite connectivity at “similar to terrestrial” price points using a standard device from an MNO’s or MVNO’s SIM card of their choice.

Sateliot is the first satellite operator offering standard NB-IoT via its LEO (Low Earth Orbit) constellation of satellites, supporting 3GPP Release 17 NTN capabilities. With the new 3GPP release-17, end-user devices can seamlessly switch between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks using the same standard device and the same SIM card from MNOs and MVNOs.

Jaume Sanpera, Sateliot CEO: "The partnership with Comfone is a key milestone for Sateliot as it allows us to offer seamless NB-IoT roaming capabilities globally. From now on, every IoT application will be able to connect to our satellite network easily. We are confident that this access to satellite connectivity will also open the gate to new applications that will improve our daily lives”.

Derek Moser, VP Business Development at Comfone says “Because Sateliot’s satellite network services are 3GPP compliant, the different layers of integration between Sateliot and the mobile networks, which are required, can be provided over the standardized GSMA roaming interfaces. These include IPX connectivity, agreements management, roaming relation maintenance, services testing as well as very importantly clearing and settlement services. That’s why Comfone’s Key2roam Platform Services are ideal to facilitate the integration between Sateliot’s Non-terrestrial Network and Mobile Networks and thereby bridging the gap between the two worlds”.

Sateliot’s 5G IoT satellite constellation improves IoT connectivity even in the most remote areas. Some of the application areas of Sateliot’s network are livestock, agriculture, supply chain, and logistics, as well as water management of drinkable wells and rivers to prevent contamination and floods, beekeeping and pollination monitoring to protect food security as the pollinators populations are in decrease, and among other uses in several industries.