Non-terrestrial network (NTN) service corporations Skylo Technologies on the 9th added 5G NR NTN (5G satellite communications integration technology) to its portfolio and unveiled a "Standardized Sky" strategy to consolidate satellite communications with existing mobile networks under a single standard.
The plan is to develop satellite consolidation not merely as a way to fill coverage shadows, but into an "invisible network" that continues seamlessly so users do not notice any handoff.
Skylo said that while the existing NB-NTN has strengths in low-power IoT and emergency messaging, NR NTN is better suited for higher data throughput and mobility, making the two technologies complementary.
The company is focused on integrating satellite networks as an extension of the global mobile infrastructure rather than as a separate ecosystem. In fact, Skylo said it secured satellite access capability on more than 1 billion devices last year, and in Jan. announced it would pursue a single-SIM satellite–cellular hybrid service with Vodafone Internet of Things (IoT).
The market is also growing rapidly. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), as of Jan. this year, partnerships between mobile carriers and satellite operators worldwide totaled 225 across 88 countries.