The connectivity crisis in industrial IoT has reached a tipping point. Less than 1% of businesses achieve greater than 98% average connectivity across their device estates.
This connectivity gap is particularly acute for manufacturers whose equipment operates in remote locations, crosses international borders, or requires mission-critical uptime. 44% of fleet operators report losing track of vehicles monthly, resulting in revenue losses exceeding $1 million annually for logistics companies. The root cause? Cellular-only approaches that leave devices stranded when coverage gaps emerge.
The solution is converged connectivity that seamlessly integrates satellite failover. Equipment manufacturers who integrate these capabilities now will capture significant competitive advantages over the next five years.
Satellite Failover: The Insurance Policy Your Equipment Needs
Rather than accepting connectivity gaps as inevitable, satellite failover creates an automatic backup system that activates when primary cellular networks become unavailable.
This approach works by continuously monitoring primary connectivity health and seamlessly switching to satellite transmission when cellular coverage drops below acceptable thresholds. The device continues operating normally while the failover system manages network transitions transparently.
For equipment manufacturers, satellite failover addresses three critical business challenges:
- Service level agreement compliance: Maintain contractual uptime requirements even in remote deployments
- Revenue protection: Prevent service disruptions that impact customer billing or equipment utilization
- Operational visibility: Ensure management systems maintain visibility into equipment status and location
The economic impact of implementing satellite failover often justifies itself through the prevented downtime costs alone. On top of meeting your customers’ expectations for uptime, connectivity failures increase the risk of security threats, a challenge facing many device manufacturers. Recent research shows that 50% of businesses have been subject to an IoT security breach in the past 12 months.
Choosing Your Satellite Failover Strategy
Blues announced the beta release of Notecard for Skylo and Starnote for Iridium this week at The Things Conference, completing our satellite connectivity offering. Understanding these options enables equipment manufacturers to select the approach that best aligns with their technical requirements and business objectives. Find out more about each product and how to apply for the beta programs:
Option 1: Notecard for Skylo – The All-in-One Solution
Best for: Equipment manufacturers seeking maximum integration simplicity with narrowband cellular requirements
Key Specifications:
- Connectivity: WiFi, Cat-M/GPRS cellular, and satellite in a single module
- Data inclusion: 500MB cellular (10 years) + 18.65KB satellite included. Additional data is charged at $0.00075 per byte
- Coverage: USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia
- Satellite network: Skylo Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites
The Notecard for Skylo represents the most integrated approach to converged connectivity. It’s the first device on the market to combine three radio access technologies (RATs) in a single module, eliminating hardware complexity while providing comprehensive connectivity options. This solution works particularly well for equipment operating within Skylo’s coverage areas and doesn’t require mid or wideband cellular capabilities.
The economic advantage of this approach becomes clear when comparing total solution costs. Rather than purchasing separate modules for cellular and satellite connectivity, manufacturers get both capabilities in a single SKU, simplifying inventory management and reducing integration complexity.
Register your interest in joining the Notecard for Skylo beta program here.
Option 2: Starnote for Iridium – The Global Coverage Champion
Best for: Equipment operating in super remote locations or requiring guaranteed global coverage
Key Specifications:
- Connectivity: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite via Iridium network (requires separate Notecard for cellular)
- Coverage: True global coverage including poles and oceans
- Satellite network: Iridium LEO constellation
Starnote for Iridium provides satellite capabilities as an add-on to existing Notecard cellular solutions and addresses the most demanding connectivity requirements by leveraging the Iridium LEO satellite constellation. This solution offers global coverage, including polar and oceanic areas where GEO satellites cannot reach.
Starnote for Iridium is ideal for equipment that cannot tolerate connectivity gaps, regardless of location. The Iridium network’s proven reliability and global reach make it the natural choice for mission-critical applications operating in the world’s most challenging environments.
Register your interest in joining the Starnote for Iridium beta program here.
Option 3: Starnote for Skylo – For Fixed Deployments
Best for: Remote deployments in fixed locations with Skylo coverage
Key Specifications:
- Connectivity: Satellite (requires a separate Notecard for cellular)
- Data inclusion: 18.65KB satellite. Additional data is charged at $0.00075 per byte
- Coverage: USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia
- Satellite network: Skylo GEO satellites
Starnote for Skylo provides satellite capabilities as an add-on to existing Notecard cellular solutions. This approach offers maximum flexibility for manufacturers who want to retrofit satellite capabilities into existing products or require midband or wideband cellular capabilities.
The modular approach to Starnote for Skylo enables manufacturers to offer satellite connectivity as an optional feature or to upgrade existing deployments without requiring a complete hardware redesign.
Get started today with a Starnote for Skylo Starter Kit.
Understanding Satellite Connectivity Options: LEO vs. GEO
When evaluating satellite connectivity for industrial equipment, understanding the fundamental differences between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites is critical for making informed technology choices.
Low Earth Orbit satellites, such as the Iridium network, provide IoT device manufacturers with low-latency failover connectivity that matches terrestrial network performance, enabling real-time applications and global coverage. Characteristics of LEO connectivity include:
- Orbit altitude: 160-2,000 km above Earth
- Latency: 20-40 milliseconds (comparable to terrestrial networks)
- Coverage: True global coverage including poles and oceans
- Signal strength: Stronger signal due to proximity to Earth
- Network complexity: Requires constellation of hundreds or thousands of satellites
Geostationary Earth Orbit satellites, such as those used by Skylo, offer IoT device manufacturers cost-effective regional failover connectivity with simpler network architecture and fewer handoffs, making them ideal for equipment operating within specific geographic zones where ultra-low latency isn’t critical. Characteristics of GEO connectivity include:
- Orbit altitude: 35,786 km above Earth’s equator
- Latency: 240-280 milliseconds
- Coverage: Regional coverage with limited polar and oceanic reach
- Signal strength: Weaker due to distance, requires more power
- Network complexity: Fewer satellites needed for coverage area
For industrial applications, LEO satellites provide superior performance for real-time applications, asset tracking, and global deployments, while GEO satellites offer cost-effective solutions for regional deployments with less stringent latency requirements.
The Right Satellite for Your Product
When evaluating Blues satellite failover options, consider these key factors:
Geographic Coverage Requirements:
- Regional operations (US, Canada, Europe): Notecard for Skylo or Starnote for Skylo
- Global operations including poles/oceans: Starnote for Iridium
Cellular Bandwidth Needs:
- Narrowband sufficient: Notecard for Skylo
- Midband/wideband required: Starnote for Skylo + appropriate Notecard
Integration Complexity Tolerance:
- Minimize integration effort: Notecard for Skylo
- Flexible, modular approach: Either Starnote option
- Retrofit existing Notecard deployment: Starnote for Skylo
Budget Considerations:
- Single upfront purchase preferred: Notecard for Skylo
- Modular investment approach: Starnote options
- Premium for global coverage acceptable: Starnote for Iridium
Make the Move: Next Steps to Satellite Integration
Research reveals that 68% of businesses say cheap IoT connectivity providers are not a good long-term investment, indicating a market shift toward valuing reliability over upfront cost savings. Choosing to integrate satellite failover capabilities directly addresses this preference by ensuring connectivity resilience, with no subscriptions or commitments.
For industrial and commercial equipment manufacturers, the question isn’t whether to integrate satellite connectivity, but which approach best aligns with your product strategy and customer requirements. Blues provides options for every use case, from cost-effective regional coverage to premium global capabilities.
The connectivity crisis facing industrial IoT won’t resolve itself through traditional approaches. Equipment manufacturers who integrate satellite capabilities now will establish competitive moats that compound over the next five years as converged connectivity becomes a market requirement rather than a differentiator.
Get in touch with the team at Blues to discuss your products satellite connectivity needs, and register for the beta for Notecard for Skylo or Starnote for Iridium.
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about Starnote for Iridium and Notecard for Skylo
- Satellite Connectivity Forecast: 5 Trends Product Managers Need to Know
- See Blues Satellite products in store