Satellite Internet, the disruptive business that goes beyond Starlink, gains prominence at the MWC

2024-02-28 17:35:19

Last summer I spent a few days in Chacaua, a remote fishing village located in the middle of a lagoon on the Pacific coast of Mexico. As far as the eye could see it was all mangroves, sand and water. Human presence was scarce in this natural area, but even so mobile found a way to access internet. He didn’t make it through towers of telecommunications nor from underwater fiber optic cables, which do not exist in that wild environment, but by connecting to satellites which orbited about 535 km above my head.

That was possible thanks to Starlinkthe satellite internet project deployed by SpaceXthe pioneering aerospace company led by the technology magnate Elon Musk. This initiative, which visited the Mobile World Congress (MWC) of Barcelona In 2021, it dominates with an iron fist a market that is emerging strongly. Starlink currently has about 3,395 low-orbit satellites, which is half of all those orbiting the Earth.

Until now, Starlink and Kuiperthe satellite constellation of Amazon, have focused most of the attention. However, other companies have been gaining muscle since the regulations to launch these devices were approved in 2022. At the end of that year, the iPhone 14 It became the first mobile phone to integrate satellite connectivity, anticipating what is to come. Proof of the strategic importance of the sector is its growing prominence in the MWC 2024. More and more satellite companies are beginning to present their proposals in the halls of the venue Gran Via of Barcelona Fair and to debate the direction of the market in the different talks organized by GSMAthe person in charge of the technology fair.

“Los nanosatellites They are transforming the industry. It is a paradigm shift and there is no turning back,” he explains. James Sanperaco-founder and CEO of Sateliot. In May of last year, this Catalan company made history by launching the first satellite in the world that offers coverage 5G for the one known as Internet of Thingsa concept that refers to the connection of all types of devices, from cars to those in the home.

Connectivity, a lucrative business

More and more companies are betting on deploying swarms of satellites in the cielo to bring the connection to the red to any place in the world. That can help put an end to the digital divide. It is expected that, when it gains momentum, this advance will target some 600 million people without coverage and another 300 with low levels of connectivity.

This wireless method also opens the door to a promising new model of business. Sanpera explains to El Periódico de Catalunya, from the Prensa Ibérica group, that Sateliot has agreements to connect six million devices in remote areas of countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada or Mexico. “That’s one and a half times more than the entire industry combined has managed to connect in the last 20 years,” he says. The company will begin to market its services during the second half of 2024, something it will do hand in hand with the operators. The businessman believes that disruption of his strategy “will force the satellite industry to move.

Another of the heavyweights in the sector is OneWeb/Eutelsat. Since 2019, the company has launched more than 650 geostationary satellites into orbit, especially useful for telecommunications and to capture meteorological data. Their benefits reach 2,150 million euros. “We are the European alternative to giants like Starlink and Kuiper,” explained Laurence Delpy, general director of its video business unit.

Satellites are allowing communications in emergency situations, especially in sectors such as maritime, transportation or agriculture, but “the transmission of satellites will soon be expanded.” data to be able to make calls, send texts and watch videos anywhere in the world,” explained Dan Dooley, commercial director of the American firm Lynk Global.