Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on innovative solutions for the telecom sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we decided to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at 5 promising satellite communication startups.
Heat Map: 5 Top Satellite Communication Startups
Using our StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally, we looked at innovation in the field of telecommunication. For this research, we identified 272 relevant solutions and picked 5 to showcase below. These companies were chosen based on a data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. Depending on your specific criteria, the top picks might look entirely different.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 startups & emerging companies developing innovative solutions for satellite communication. Moreover, the Heat Map reveals regions that observe a high startup activity and illustrates the geographic distribution of all 272 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
Myriota – Satellite Connectivity
As the Internet of Things (IoT) and related technologies grow, startups are working on solutions that connect multiple devices in a single system. However, terrestrial connectivity solutions are limited in their range and are often inefficient for remote infrastructure. Satellite connectivity enables truly global coverage and expands the applications of IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) in asset management.
Myriota is an Australian startup that offers low-cost, low-power global connectivity for applications based on IoT. The startup’s ground modules transfer data directly to the cloud using a constellation of nanosatellites. Myriota also enables encrypted and secure access to data from anywhere in the world in a scalable manner.
Skyloom – Optical Communications
Satellites generally use radio frequencies (RF) to transmit data to the ground stations. However, their data-carrying capacity is quite restricted, allowing connectivity only at sparse times. To this end, developments in optical technologies enable high capacity and immediate data transfer. This opens up real-time and global applications powered by satellite communications.
The US-based startup Skyloom develops a spaceborne network for optical communications. The startup’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and proprietary fiberless architecture enable fast and high capacity data plans. Further, the solution features immediacy and flexibility to help telecommunication companies offer real-time and location-agnostic solutions.
Hiber – Low Power Global Area Network
The growth of IoT technologies is marked by falling hardware and computing costs, as well as the development of longer-lasting batteries. However, the lack of global connectivity solutions remains a bottleneck for IoT-based applications. Telecom and space technology startups are working on solutions that empower low power and global connectivity to bridge this gap.
Hiber is a Dutch startup that offers a global IoT network. Hiberband, a low power global area network that uses nanosatellites at a low orbit. Since this is a low power solution, companies are able to reduce costs compared to existing satellite connectivity options. The startup’s solution is also direct-to-satellite, eliminating the need for terrestrial networks. Hiber’s solution is available in two versions, Hiberband Direct and Hiberband Via, for scattered devices and high-density setups that require real-time monitoring, respectively.
Freefall Aerospace – Inflatable Antenna
Space antennas direct data to the right ground station or device on the ground. However, they are usually large and expensive to put into an orbit. Low mass and low power alternatives generally also have low data rates. Inflatable reflectors offer high data rates without the mass and complexity of traditional solutions, enabling modern applications such as fifth-generation (5G) wireless.
The US-based startup Freefall Aerospace develops antenna technology for use in ground, air, and space. The startup’s inflatable antenna for spacecraft systems is ultra-low mass and volume. The antennas have spherical reflectors and large apertures for wide fields of view and high gain. The solution uses electronic beam steering to transmit big data from CubeSats and small spacecraft.
Clutch Space Systems – Ground Segment
Satellite communication infrastructure, including both ground stations and satellites in orbit, require massive upfront investment. Startups are working on solutions that reduce the infrastructure cost to promote growth in satellite-based applications, particularly satellite communication. Software-defined ground segments help achieve this by moving some functions of hardware elements to the software.
Clutch Space Systems is a British startup that provides solutions for payload communications. CLUTCH-AnyBAND uses systems engineering techniques to serve S- and S-/X- bands. The solution provides high-performance communications for ground station network providers and satellite operators. It reduces the cost and complexity of satellite communications by lowering hardware costs and increasing the loading on current infrastructure.
What About The Other 267 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence and enable you to achieve your goals faster. The 5 satellite communication startups showcased above are promising examples out of 272 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, get in touch.
