Frequently Asked Questions

Skylo is a global Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service provider offering a service that allows devices to connect directly over existing satellites, making satellite connectivity accessible to all. Skylo eliminates coverage gaps by enabling seamless switching between satellite and cellular connectivity for smartphones, wearables, automotive, and IoT devices.  Skylo connects regular cellular devices to satellites instead of cell towers. We use satellite networks to provide coverage in remote areas where cell towers don’t exist. Your phone connects as it would to a normal cellular network, but the signal is relayed through satellites instead to ensure connectivity anywhere. Skylo works with existing satellite operators, network operators, and device makers like Qualcomm, Samsung, Verizon, and Google to deliver the world’s largest direct-to-device satellite network connectivity.

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Carrier networks worldwide are focused on population centers, yet cover just 15% of the global 

surface. Traditional satellite networks are expensive and don’t interoperate with carrier networks. Satellite connectivity has historically required custom hardware which increases costs further. Skylo was founded to address these issues.  

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By connecting to a number of existing satellite constellations in the sky, Skylo is unique in providing a continuous and contiguous network overlay without coverage gaps in urban areas or at cellular network edges. This is complemented by a seamless experience at the device level. Our network provides peace of mind and enhanced connectivity for consumers and enterprises in partnership with mobile network operators and OEMs around the world.

Skylo’s connectivity begins at the chipset level. Skylo is a seamless user experience built from the ground up. With Skylo, the devices know how to find a satellite signal when they lose terrestrial cellular connectivity. The seamless user experience continues at the OS level with an integrated experience so consumers know when they are communicating via satellite, and can do so in a repeatable and predictable manner. Skylo is the only solution commercially available today to bridge satellite and cellular networks and make satellite connectivity available to all. We are a complementary support to carrier and device activations ensuring that consumers can expect uninterrupted service. 

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We’ve spent years - and have over 100 patents - focused on optimizing satellite links to cellular devices across constellation types. Skylo’s accessibility, scalability, and commercial footprint are a direct reflection of that work.  To do this, Skylo has pioneered 40 partnerships with global ecosystem partners to enable satellite connectivity around the world, expanding upon the cellular standards into NTN.  

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Skylo is the first satellite solution for Android 15 and is natively integrated with Android 15 for a seamless experience in both emergency and peer-to-peer messaging situations. Our use of dedicated, licensed Mobile Satellite Service spectrum in existing, globally allocated frequency bands allows for continuous and contiguous coverage without requiring mobile operators to share their valuable spectrum assets. The worldwide regulatory framework to utilize Mobile Satellite Service spectrum is already in place and has been for decades.  Mobile network operators can rapidly integrate with our network service as we are already commercially available and at a global scale today with regulatory approvals. 

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Our innovations and partnerships with chipset, component, and device providers have enabled the use of Mobile Satellite Service spectrum, existing satellite constellation partnerships, and a rapid time to market for the mobile network operator. Being vertically integrated as both a service operator and a technology provider has given Skylo a significant moat around its approach, allowing us to build and deploy new features above and beyond the 3GPP standards. Additionally, Skylo has engineered its back-end to allow carriers to integrate D2D with the ease of a simple roaming arrangement.

Skylo provides a continuous network overlay in urban areas at cellular network edges by connecting to existing satellites. By connecting everyday cellular devices to existing satellites already in the sky, we also found that we have an existing regulatory framework in place to scale globally. The company’s global reach is enabled by its use of Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum which allows for continuous and contiguous coverage in rural and remote areas without requiring mobile operators to share their valuable spectrum assets. Skylo’s coverage is a complete network overlay. This approach also avoids possible network interference that can occur when satellite and cellular networks attempt to share the same frequency band.

Skylo developed the world’s first commercial NTN RAN and deployed an end-to-end service across all categories of cellular devices that enabled a far broader adoption of satellite connectivity by enterprises and consumers alike. Skylo’s network is available at scale today providing seamless overlay coverage to the terrestrial footprint. For the first time, cellular devices can seamlessly switch to satellite network coverage without the added complexity of expensive satellite components. Additionally, by using the efficient NB-NTN waveform, bringing power-saving modes such as eDRX and PSM, Skylo’s service has minimal impact on the battery life of the cellular device despite drawing no more power nor using any separate antennas relative to cellular. Skylo’s Radio Access Network infrastructure is installed in ten Earth Stations globally making Skylo the world’s first commercial standards-based D2D service.

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Skylo is deeply integrated with major global chipset companies and module makers including Qualcomm, Samsung, MediaTek, Sony, Murata, Quectel, Telit, and Semtech. We have completed interoperability and deployment testing with 80%+ of the industry-standard 5G chipsets and 60%+ of modules worldwide, including the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon, Samsung Exynos 5G chipsets, and others. The official commercial launch of Skylo’s Radio Access Network (RAN) and the availability of satellite network service began in April 2023. Currently, our network is live across more than 50M square kilometers worldwide, supported by ten Earth stations in 35 countries across 4 continents.

Yes, Skylo uses AES 128-bit encryption for over the air transmissions in its solution.

Skylo integrates with MNO/MVNOs with standard 3GPP Interfaces such as S6a for authentication and S8 for data routing.  This makes it easy for carriers to integrate with Skylo.  Skylo can complete core integration with carrier customers in as little as 3 weeks using standard interfaces

To deliver a seamless experience takes more than just satellites. Skylo is a full-circle ecosystem from chipsets to OS integration to satellites. No one else has built an integrated experience from the ground up with a standards-based ecosystem of partners from chipset makers to module and device manufacturers, certification testing labs, SIM providers, and mobile carriers.  We are paving the way forward for the entire industry to embrace enhanced connectivity in their products and services.

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Skylo is integrated with major global chipset companies and module makers We have completed interoperability and deployment testing with 80%+ of the industry-standard 5G chipsets and 60%+ of modules worldwide, including the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon, Samsung Exynos 5G chipsets, and others. The official commercial launch of Skylo’s Radio Access Network (RAN) and the availability of satellite network service began in April 2023. Skylo expanded global reach in January 2024 with the addition of U.S. and Canadian markets which tripled the network’s geographic footprint. Additional geographies are live and undergoing commercial deployment, including South America, ANZ, and APAC.

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The launch of Skylo’s RAN was a first-of-its-kind event that enabled a far broader adoption of satellite connectivity by businesses and consumers alike. Skylo is now the world’s largest commercial, standards-based direct-to-device network.  For the first time, cellular devices can seamlessly switch to satellite network coverage without the added device cost of expensive satellite components.  This opens up completely new use cases that were too expensive, inconvenient, and impractical to pursue before.  Skylo is helping businesses optimize operations today by obtaining highly distributed data and then taking action through the network, enhancing the safety of remote workers, and facilitating sustainable practices worldwide through better and more timely data through real-time connectivity.

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We’ve taken a leadership role within the satellite and telecommunications industries by building upon 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standards. The 3GPP blueprint orchestrates uniformity across access modes, protocols, and network interfaces, equipping the telecom space with interoperability. This extends to security as well – Skylo’s network ensures users enjoy the same or better encryption and privacy standards as they are used to on their terrestrial cellular network connections.  While Skylo’s approach is grounded in 3GPP specifications, our engineers adhere to additional technical specifications to improve the functionality, interoperability, and ubiquity of the satellite-based network over and above the 3GPP standards.  

Some “firsts” for Skylo Technologies include:

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• First non-terrestrial network (NTN) to cover four continents.
• First standards-based NTN for satellite IoT.
• First satellite IoT solution that leverages existing cellular devices.
• First interoperable device and network ecosystem that is “future flexible” and eliminates lock-in.
• First standards-based, “direct-to-device” RAN (Radio Access Network) for communication between satellites and devices.
• First to support the 3GPP Mobile Broadband Standard Release 17.
• First wholesale provider of satellite connectivity to cellular carriers - complements and extends cellular networks.
• First seamless cellular-to-satellite roaming solution.
• First satellite solution for Android 15. Natively integrated.

Skylo is the world’s largest standards-based direct-to-device satellite network. We are the first satellite provider to operate on four continents. Coverage includes expansive areas within North America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. As Skylo continues to expand this coverage, our coverage map is continually updated to reflect our expansion.

No, Skylo is available at scale today because it partners with existing satellite operators such as Terrestar Solutions, Viasat, Ligado Networks, and EchoStar for spectrum and capacity.

Skylo works closely with the leading chipset, module, and consumer device manufacturers. A list of Skylo certified devices and modules can be found here.

Skylo’s satellite network service is well suited to enterprise IoT applications with exposure to remote locations that are outside the reach of cellular networks.

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Key Industries

• Utilities
• Automotive
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Oil & Gas
• Mining

With Skylo, the devices know how to find a satellite signal when they lose terrestrial cellular connectivity.  The seamless user experience starts at the chipset level and continues at the OS level with an integrated experience so consumers know when they are communicating via satellite, and can do so in a repeatable and predictable manner.  In addition, our technology isn’t limited by form factor, Skylo’s technology has been demonstrated on phones, wearables, automotive, and enterprise solutions. Our network and technology have created new and innovative use cases such as cattle tracking, payments over satellite, and messaging for small vessel fishermen.

Skylo’s Certification Program is the industry’s only device certification program. Our certification program is designed to continue to expand its ecosystem of off-the-shelf cellular devices so that customers have maximum choice in deploying Skylo’s satellite network for enterprise IoT applications. 

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Skylo works closely with chipset manufacturers at the firmware level to make certification straightforward. Skylo also offers technical consultation for device manufacturers looking to become Skylo Certified.

Certification steps include:

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• Connect with us to start the process
• Share key data on device behaviorsome text
  1. Provide performance against key requirements
  2. Skylo completes validation testing on performance data 
  3. Device manufacturers implement any required updates
• Testing/QAsome text
  1. Testing performed at:
     1. Third-parties such as Anritsu, Keysight, and Rohde & Schwarz
     2. OEM’s lab and in the field
     3. Skylo’s lab and in the field in partnership
• Certificationsome text
  1. Skylo cross checks requirements versus test results
  2. Skylo performs spot check on the final product's - both software and firmware
  3. Type approval is provided when the test results satisfy the requirements
  4. Skylo updates its website, listing the product as a Skylo Certified

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The certification process is performed at three levels:

• Chipset - NTN protocol implementation and Skylo-specific protocol standards
• Module - Use certified chipset to produce reliable RF and functional output
• Device - Use certified module or chipset to produce an end device that operates reliably on the network

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For more information about how to get your device certified, please reach out to us at info@skylo.tech