The non-terrestrial network provider, which has partnered Telekom and Qualcomm wants to embed satellite messaging in vehicles
Skylo Technologies is going all-in on providing satellite connectivity to vehicles for safety, diagnostics, and emergency services using embedded antennas and existing chipset suppliers. The satco already provides direct-to-device satellite connectivity with over 5 million commercially activated devices and last November completed a trial of sending and receiving SMS to and from a smartphone via GEO satellite with Deutsche Telekom and Qualcomm.
In the run up to the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA)’s upcoming F2F week in Paris this week, the satco has joined the organisation and announced a flurry of partnerships and trials to help set the scene on a future where users will be subscribing to all manner of services in their software define vehicles.
Skylo is collaborating with partners BMW Group and Deutsche Telekom to introduce seamless non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication to vehicles to support real-time messaging, vehicle status messages, hazard warnings and other use cases transmitted bidirectionally over satellite. At 5GAA F2F, the BMW iX2 vehicle will connect to the Skylo non-terrestrial network using a standard SIM provided by Deutsche Telekom. This allows users to maintain their current relationship with their mobile operator while complementing terrestrial connectivity with satellite.
“The cooperation with BMW Group and Skylo demonstrates what satellite connectivity for the Internet of Things already offers today,” said Deutsche Telekom satellite IoT program lead Jens Olejak. “We are providing the IoT connectivity for this demonstration. Skylo is one of our partners for NB-NTN, fail-safe connectivity via geostationary satellites. It is essential for important safety functions such as real-time hazard warnings in cars. Skylo is also a roaming partner in our global ‘network of networks’ ecosystem, the foundation for IoT applications of all kinds.”
Scalable connectivity
The automotive industry communications environment is still taking shape but Skylo is going to be going up against heavyweights Soracom, Harman and relative but large newcomers like LG Electronics. As a result, it is partnered up pretty quickly. For example, Skylo and software-defined vehicle company Cubic³ introduced what they claim is world’s first unified automotive eSIM solution supporting both terrestrial and satellite connectivity.
This 3GPP Rel-17 compliant solution will eliminate the need to support multiple networks or hardware upgrades, ensuring that vehicles powered by Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF solutions from Qualcomm stay securely connected to critical services anywhere there is a clear line of sight to the sky. Skylo is currently working with Rolling Wireless to certify its RN951Y 5G Rel 17 and NB-NTN module for satellite connectivity.
“We’re excited to unveil the world’s first automotive-grade solution that delivers seamless connectivity across both terrestrial cellular and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) – marking a major milestone in enabling a truly ubiquitous network for connected cars,” said Cubic³ CEO Barry Napier. “Our collaboration with Skylo has centred on redefining the limits of global vehicle connectivity.”
Cubic³ has literally just announced the successful completion of a satellite connectivity test with Intelsat as well. The test demonstrated successful integration between Intelsat satellites and Cubic³’s software platform, showcasing how terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks can seamlessly link to deliver always-on connectivity regardless of location.
More partnerships
At the core of Skylo’s pitch to automakers is reliable, always-on connectivity beyond cellular coverage. A partnership with Qualcomm Technologies introduces satellite capability to the newly certified Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2, supporting 3GPP R17 NB-NTN standards. The platform will be the first to demonstrate seamless switching between terrestrial and Skylo satellite networks using a single SIM card—marking a milestone in unified connectivity.
In parallel, Skylo is working with Harman, a Samsung subsidiary, to enable bidirectional emergency messaging in vehicles through Harman’s Ready Connect TCU. This allows for emergency alerts and real-time weather updates to be delivered over satellite when cellular networks fail – bringing critical redundancy to driver safety systems.
Skylo has also partnered with Fraunhofer IIS, integrating the NESC AI-assisted voice codec into its network to deliver high-quality voice communication over satellite. This innovation extends voice-enabled emergency and messaging functions to cars operating far from terrestrial infrastructure.
