When Sputnik 1 successfully launched into space on October 4, 1957, it marked a Herculean moment in human history. After millennia of staring at the stars, we finally knew it was possible to launch continent-spanning communications and then mini-computer platforms into space to explore and provide vital intelligence about the Earth. The event also critically served as a launching pad for revolutionizing telecommunications and Earth Observation.
Satellite imagery is rapidly emerging as an essential technology for industries requiring precise, continuous, and real-time monitoring solutions. It enables organizations to track everything from agricultural fields to military assets with unparalleled accuracy. As covered in ABI Research’s Satellite Imaging Platforms Developments & Outlook presentation, the technology is rapidly evolving and expanding its use cases across diverse industries.
Working in a competitive industry demands that you become a data-driven organization. As a technology solution provider, effectively leveraging data can unlock significant advantages, such as driving market expansion and fostering innovation. Unfortunately, all too many companies lack an analytical approach to decision-making.
Laser satellite communication (also called lasercom) is a subset of free-space optical communication, presenting significant advantages over Radio Frequency (RF) signals. Laser satellite users can expect increased data rates (bandwidth), enabling them to send and receive far more information than traditional radio waves. With major satellite players like Starlink and Amazon Project Kuiper investing in the technology, there is broader attention being paid to Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs).
Heavy industrial sectors like mining, forestry, construction, transportation, and manufacturing are on the verge of a major transformation. These industries face increasing challenges, such as stricter worksite safety requirements, the need to minimize downtime, and a shrinking workforce. Consequently, there's a pressing need for digital transformation that connects people, data, and equipment.
Picture yourself residing on a remote island with a small population. Given the limited business prospectson your island, the likelihood of any Communication Service Provider (CSP) investing in terrestrial telecommunication infrastructure on the island is extremely low. The absence of Internet broadband can lead to educational challenges, limited access to information, economic disadvantages, vital healthcare limitations, social isolation, reduced innovation, and many more issues, all of which would have a detrimental effect on your community. This scenario embodies the essence of the “digital divide.”
On September 19, 2023, AST SpaceMobile announced a historic milestone: the successful completion of the first-ever 5G connection for both voice and data transmission between an ordinary, unmodified smartphone and a space satellite. The company's engineers showcased this space-based 5G connectivity by initiating a call from Maui, Hawaii, United States, to a Vodafone engineer situated in Madrid, Spain. This remarkable feat was accomplished using AT&T's Band 5/850 Megahertz (MHz) spectrum and AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 (BW3) test satellite—the largest-ever commercial communications array deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Imagine for a moment that you’re a farmer working in a remote area of your country where there is little to no population. In this scenario, you would be far from any sprawling cities and, therefore, adequate Terrestrial Network (TN) infrastructure for device connectivity. The problem is that reliable connectivity is necessary when you need to monitor the condition of your crops, water supply, and tractors. This is where satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services are a game-changer, and these applications don’t just apply to the agriculture industry. Any work site located in a remote/rural area, such as the mining, oil & gas, and fleet management markets, could all benefit from space-based IoT communications. In this post, we list 13 companies that innovation leaders should assess as they look to implement satellite IoT solutions into their operations.
Market research goes hand-in-hand with maximizing profits at a business enterprise. Whether you’re a vendor or an enterprise implementer of a new technology, in-depth, data-backed intelligence can safely guide your organization toward sustained success. Technology research deliverables identify potential roadblocks and lucrative revenue opportunities for organizations, while giving you a reliable partner to consult with when questions about your respective market inevitably arise. Take, for example, the technology market research case studies we recently compiled, showcasing how our forward-looking methodologies help some of our biggest clients with their digitization journeys. In this blog post, let’s review four of these case studies to give you a better idea of what kind of results you can expect from ABI Research as a technology intelligence partner.
Through vigorous standardization efforts, The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has laid the groundwork for satellite-based 5G connectivity using Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). Leveraging satellites enables Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide broadband coverage to those tough-to-reach areas, such as remote construction sites or crop fields for agriculture, as well as in underserved regions. As will be spelled out in this post, 5G from space can even help save lives by providing low-latency broadband to users in emergency scenarios when terrestrial networks are unavailable. To capitalize on this US$18 billion market opportunity that NTN mobile presents, everyone from smartphone manufacturers to Satellite Communication (SatCom) service providers, and from chipset vendors to network operators, have been busy integrating satellite communications into their 5G solutions and striking numerous partnerships to strengthen their offerings.