Thuraya, the mobile satellite services subsidiary of the Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the leading UAE-based global satellite operator, and eSAT Global, a pioneer in low cost Satellite IoT connectivity, today announced the completion of successful tests validating eSAT’s revolutionary Global LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) communications technology over Thuraya’s satellite system.

As a leading provider of mobile satellite services (MSS) over its geostationary (GEO) satellites, Thuraya offers an expanding range of compelling voice, broadband data, and M2M/IoT capabilities for land, maritime and aeronautical applications.  These include cost-effective solutions, catering to a wide range of technical and commercial market requirements.

To date, only modest consideration has been given to the use of direct links to GEO MSS satellites for LPWAN connectivity for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.  eSAT’s tests of its breakthrough technology over Thuraya’s robust GEO MSS system reveal that this approach is not only practical, but also highly advantageous, and that low latency, low-cost LPWAN connectivity is about to become a reality with the use of Thuraya’s cutting-edge technology.

The functionality of the eSAT system is enabled by the advanced capabilities of Thuraya’s GEO MSS system. eSAT’s disruptive approach ensures much lower costs and much higher capacity than many other satellite-based LPWAN systems. It is also cost-competitive when compared to ground-based solutions, which are by their very nature, limited in their range of coverage.

The match between the Thuraya system and eSAT’s services is now proven. “We are very grateful to have worked with Thuraya to verify eSAT system’s performance using Thuraya’s system.  The links operated just as the Thuraya team described, with the end-to-end, two-way connectivity being consistently achieved, right from the first attempt,” stated Michael Parr, eSAT’s Chief Technology Officer.

Thuraya’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jassem Nasser commented, “We are delighted with the success of the testing campaign conducted by the joint team of Thuraya and eSAT experts. Thuraya aims at being at the forefront of Satellite IoT and we believe in its enormous potential to transform societies and industries worldwide. Testing with eSAT is one of many steps we are undertaking to address the Satellite IoT markets, and we look forward to eSAT completing the development of its unique technology platform.”

eSAT Global’s Executive Chairman, David Lyon, noted, “We are very pleased to mark this occasion of successful joint testing.  eSAT looks forward to future success with Thuraya bringing reliable, always available, Global LPWAN data connectivity to millions of IoT devices enabling practical applications such as environmental protection, public safety and fire prevention, asset and personnel tracking, and smart agriculture. This borderless mobility will also enable ongoing refinement of IoT applications through AI techniques applied to the massive data records that are to be continuously gathered over these GLPWAN communication links.”

Thuraya and eSAT now look forward to bringing ultra-low-cost Satellite IoT to the market to address the many applications that have now become viable at a previously unheard-of price point.