Viasat has unveiled its new IoT Nano service, which promises to provide enhanced global remote connectivity.
Getting a reliable signal can be a pain at the best of times, but what if your entire business operates in the middle of nowhere, far from the nearest mobile phone mast? That’s the problem Viasat is aiming to solve.
Think about tracking valuable farming equipment across thousands of acres, monitoring shipping containers on the open sea, or checking on utility pipelines in the desert. These are the kinds of jobs where you can’t just rely on a 5G signal. IoT Nano uses Viasat’s globe-spanning L-band satellite network to get the job done, offering a two-way link for businesses that work off the grid.
The service is powered by technology from ORBCOMM. In simple terms, the proprietary ‘OGx’ tech offered by ORBCOMM claims to be faster, able to handle more data, and all while being more power-efficient than legacy IoT connectivity solutions.
Andy Kessler, VP of Enterprise and Land Mobile at Viasat, said: “The IoT Nano service represents a significant advancement in providing flexible, scalable, and energy-efficient IoT connectivity to businesses operating in the most remote corners of the world.
“By leveraging the enhanced capabilities of the ORBCOMM OGx service and equipping our partner ecosystem with new low-cost modules and service capabilities, we are empowering customers with access to smarter data, more frequently, in more places, at a lower cost.”
What this means for customers is that they get a near-real-time picture of what their assets are doing. And for companies already using Viasat’s older systems? The good news is they don’t have to throw out their existing gear; the new service is designed to work with it.
Because the new system sips power, the trackers and sensors it connects to can run on smaller batteries and more affordable solar panels. That reduced cost is a huge deal when you’re deploying hundreds of them in remote locations.
Viasat is also opening the doors for other tech companies to get creative, offering them the tools to build their own custom devices that use the IoT Nano service.
Dave Roscoe, President of Satellite IoT at ORBCOMM, commented: “OGx delivers faster speeds, larger messages, and lower power usage, all backed by ORBCOMM’s proven terminals, network, and field support.
“We are excited to partner with Viasat to enable solution providers to build and scale IoT applications across industries including agriculture, transportation, maritime, oil and gas, heavy equipment, and mining. By lowering the cost and increasing the effectiveness of satellite connectivity, OGx makes it possible for our partners to enter new markets, expand use cases, and drive incremental growth.”
This kind of technology might not grab national headlines, but it’s vital for making businesses smarter and more efficient, no matter where they happen to be.
(Photo by Javier Miranda)
See also: Oman sees rapid growth in mobile and IoT connections
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