The Global Certification Forum (GCF) and Sateliot, which claims to offer the satellite LEO constellation offering NB-IoT connectivity from space under the 3GPP standard, have announced Sateliot as the satellite operator to become a member of GCF.
The collaboration will align and speed up the market availability of certified 3GPP Rel-17 NTN LEO-supported IoT chipsets and modules. The GCF certification programme assures device-network interoperability, as well as contributes to a reduction in testing costs, and accelerated time-to-market. In addition, both companies aim to bring ecosystem players together to support the massive adoption of IoT across the globe.
GCF recently introduced the 3GPP Rel-17 NB-IoT/eMTC support for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) specification into its certification programme, which will support satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) access from devices to address massive use cases in sectors such as agriculture, transport, logistics and many more.
Gianluca Redolfi, Sateliot’s CCO, says, “This unprecedented agreement in the space industry sends a clear message that Sateliot’s technology is groundbreaking and disrupting the satellite industry. It’s no secret that, in the future, most IoT devices will work under standard protocols as is happening on terrestrial communications.”
Lars Nielsen, GCF’s CEO, says, “We are pleased to announce the first standards-based satellite operator joining the Global Certification Forum. We anticipate other satellite operators and manufacturers will follow, making interoperable, 3GPP standards-based cellular NTN access a reality soon.”
The first outcomes of this interoperability between satellite and cellular are expected by the end of 2023, allowing single devices to access two different connectivity modes (terrestrial and non-terrestrial).
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