Telecommunications provider o2 Telefónica is offering mobile connectivity via satellite for the first time. The ‘Satellite IoT’ tariff option from o2 Business for business customers will be launched in March. This combines communication via terrestrial and non-terrestrial mobile networks - i.e. via mobile phone masts and satellites - as required.
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Munich, 26 February 2025 - Telecommunications provider o2 Telefónica is offering mobile connectivity via satellite for the first time. The ‘Satellite IoT’ tariff option from o2 Business for business customers will be launched in March. This combines communication via terrestrial and non-terrestrial mobile networks - i.e. via mobile phone masts and satellites - as required. This enables extended connectivity: companies can connect IoT devices such as trackers and sensors in many areas – even in dead spots or areas with weak network reception – to remain connected.
o2 Telefónica is working together with the Californian company Skylo Technologies, a pioneer in the field of non-terrestrial mobile communications. The two providers agreed on a partnership in September 2023. Marketing for o2 Business customers has now begun. The ‘Satellite IoT’ tariff is the first commercial product with hybrid connectivity for NarrowBand IoT (NB IoT). The offer via satellite is initially available in 34 countries worldwide.
“Satellites complement terrestrial mobile communications precisely where they reach their limits. This is a big step forward for digitalization. Whether shipping, logistics or forestry and agriculture: with ‘Satellite IoT’, we are giving companies the opportunity to seamlessly network their locations, vehicles and sensors even in the most remote areas and thus optimize their processes. Digitalization is now possible almost everywhere - without great effort and high costs,” says Nikolaos Kalivianakis, responsible for B2B Products, Marketing & Solutions at o2 Telefónica. [Waiting for final approval]
Seamless connectivity even in the remotest corners
Companies from various industries benefit from the seamless networking of their IoT devices. In shipping and logistics, for example, the location of containers and pallets can be tracked from loading on the factory premises via remote country roads to embarkation at the harbor. The sensors also report where the goods are when they arrive in New York or Santos, Brazil. This allows companies to check and prove, for example, that the cold chain has been uninterrupted throughout the entire long journey. If there is a dead spot or insufficient reception in the terrestrial mobile phone network during transport, the connection automatically switches to the satellite network.
In turn, ‘Satellite IoT’ supports farmers with digital field monitoring, with IoT sensors regularly providing data on soil moisture or temperature.
“Modern digital technologies such as edge computing or AI applications are inconceivable without seamless connectivity. We are excited to bring our solution for IoT connectivity via satellite to Europe with o2 Telefónica to enable many new IoT use cases in the economy,” says Tarun Gupta, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Skylo.
Direct-to-device and additional features for even more data security
A particular advantage of the tariff option for ‘Satellite IoT’ from o2 Business and Skylo is that no additional end device is required to connect to the satellite. The SIM card is integrated directly into the respective device. It can be used to establish a direct connection to the terrestrial and non-terrestrial mobile networks (direct-to-device). This means that no investment in additional hardware is necessary. Business customers can manage their IoT connectivity via Telefónica's award-winning KITE platform. For special security requirements, data can be transmitted securely via VPN tunnels. The KITE feature ‘IoT Data Ready’ also enables simple and secure integration into the cloud. This allows companies to communicate securely with their IoT devices.
Workshop and consulting offer for companies
The o2 Business IoT Starter tariff offers an attractive price-performance ratio: Using the satellite network costs 70 cents per kilobyte. Terrestrial connections in Germany and Europe cost 10 cents for 10 megabytes per month, both without a monthly basic fee.
To support the implementation of new satellite IoT solutions, o2 Business offers specialized IoT expert workshops. These help companies to integrate IoT projects securely and efficiently into their processes.
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