Via Satellite’s 10 Hottest Companies rounds up 10 “must watch” companies in the satellite industry, from constellations, manufacturing, launch, and more. Via Satellite editors chose the companies on this list based on their expected activity for the year, and a mix of market share, transformational technology, ground-breaking deals, and overall industry excitement.
Now in its sixth year, it’s fascinating to see new companies make the list as the industry evolves. A number of these companies didn’t exist when the list started in 2019. The companies selected as the 2024 10 Hottest Companies in Satellite are listed here in alphabetical order.
Skylo
As the satellite and cellular worlds converge, Skylo has taken an interesting approach in the direct-to-device area, working with existing satellites and spectrum on a software solution for direct-to-device connectivity. The company works with global chipset companies and module makers to certify their devices on Skylo’s network to enable satellite-based connectivity without hardware updates. Compatible devices can “roam” onto Skylo’s network when they are outside of cellular coverage, as the network uses connectivity via partner satellites from Viasat and Ligado, for narrowband connectivity.
The company has an impressive ecosystem of partners, working with a long list of leading chip manufacturers, module makers, and MNOs including Samsung, Qualcomm, Quectel, Soracom, and Keysight. The decision to partner with Viasat is an interesting one, as Skylo chose to focus on its own tech stack and partner with existing satellites versus launching its own satellites.
Skylo sees its solution as a simple to deploy for MNOs and device manufacturers, applicable to use cases like mass market consumer devices, automotive, IoT, and more. Also, Skylo has chosen to work within 3GPP Release-17 standards, so it is not a vendor lock or proprietary solution. The company recently closed $37 million in funding, bringing new investors on board. MNOs have a number of choices for their satellite partners right now, and it will be interesting to see how Skylo scales up with its deep bench of partnerships.