EchoStar Mobile launches first S-band LoRaWAN satellite relay for remote connectivity
Image by Freepik
EchoStar Mobile, an EchoStar company has announced the availability of the first and only S-band LoRaWAN Satellite Relay (EM-SR) device with associated network functions to help businesses to fill terrestrial coverage gaps. The EM-SR Relay is specifically designed to solve key challenges with traditional LoRaWAN sensors in distribution and monitoring networks such as smart metering, distributed sensors, and remote connectivity. This solution provides cost effective LoRaWAN connectivity to sparsely deployed or hard to penetrate building locations without the need for extensive and expensive operational infrastructure.
“We are committed to fueling innovation that enhances the accessibility and reliability of connectivity in remote regions and those without connectivity infrastructure. This network provides new economics for connecting sensors located at the edge of terrestrial radio frequency coverage—providing essential connectivity for hard-to-reach locations, where adding conventional LoRaWAN gateways may not be economically attractive,” said Telemaco Melia, the vice president and general manager at EchoStar Mobile. “European businesses now have access to a low cost, scalable and reliable solution that solves difficult remote connectivity problems and enables all points of their network to be connected economically.”
IoT sensors may be located deep indoors in hard-to-reach places, such as underground, in basements, in metal cabinets, or other remote areas making conventional LoRaWAN implementation challenging. The EM-SR LoRaWAN Satellite Relay device eliminates the need to deploy terrestrial LoRaWAN gateways to fill connectivity gaps. The EchoStar Mobile S-band satellite network implements the LoRa Alliance’s LoRaWAN Relay Specification enabling multiple terrestrial LoRaWAN sensors to send and receive LoRaWAN packets via a single satellite enabled “Relay”. It is possible to connect multiple sensors using standard terrestrial LoRaWAN radios—better serving locations where there is no direct view of the sky.
The EM-SR is a self-contained unit that can connect 16 terrestrial LoRaWAN sensors and transfer data through the satellite network. It features a battery-powered satellite backhaul using energy-harvesting solutions and supports Firmware Updates Over the Air (FUOTA), which enables long-term, scalable and economical deployment.
“Connectivity, both terrestrial and satellite-based, is essential for unlocking the full potential of IoT,” said Olivier Beaujard, the chair of the board of the LoRa Alliance, and LoRa ecosystem senior director for Semtech. “With a simple firmware update, the LoRaWAN ecosystem’s broad portfolio of terrestrial sensors can now easily benefit from satellite IoT services. This is a game changing innovation that will extend low-cost satellite coverage to difficult to reach areas, such as underground and indoors.”
Offered as key component of a managed solution, the EM-SR device includes a management platform and associated APIs for integration with third party management platforms.
For more information on EchoStar Mobile’s capabilities, visit www.echostarmobile.com.
Comment on this article below or via X: @IoTGN and visit our website IoT Global Network