The next Internet will be built in space
When Arthur C. Clarke proposed the concept of a geostationary communication satellite in 1945, our daily lives were not yet invaded by dozens of devices that require continuous exchange of information. Personal computers, cell phones, your TV, even your watch… and soon your car, your fridge and all sorts of devices you can think of will be connected to the Internet. In the close future, we will come to the point where it will be hard to distinguish if we are living in the real world or in a computer simulation.
FIVE billion new consumers to come online in the next decade
Today, there are 3 billion people without access to Internet. Big companies like Virgin, Facebook and Google are planning to solve this problem by providing connectivity to every human on the planet. One Web and SpaceX are planning to build hundreds of satellites to provide global connectivity within the next decade. But what happens to your car, and every other remote device that will require a connection?
By 2020, I expect the entire world will be connected. — P. Diamandis
The “other 80 billion”
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to everyday objects, devices and sensors having access to connectivity and computing capability. Today, around 7 billion devices are connected, and it’s estimated that by 2025 around 80 billion devices will come online. Current infrastructure in populated areas may be enough to provide connectivity to those devices… But what about industrial applications that require connectivity in remote areas? The cost of current connectivity through satellite would be prohibitive for so many devices.
Entrepreneurs globally are building a solution today. Multiple startups are creating low cost connectivity services using Low Earth Orbit platforms to provide connectivity to “the other 80 billion”. Here is a list of some of the startups providing Space based connectivity for the IoT ecosystem:
- In Europe, LeoSat, Magnitude Space, Kaskilo, Sky and Space Global and Astrocast.
- North America is also being served by Kepler Communications, Helioswire and BlinkAstro.
- In Australia Fleet Space and in India Astrome.
These different solutions being built use different space platforms to provide connectivity, but also they differ on how the data is stored and transmitted, and how they interface with the gateways giving connectivity to your devices.
Interested in learning more?
Regardless of the industry that you are working on, this might represent a huge opportunity. Being able to monitor your crop sensors and operating machinery every few hours globally, tracking delivery of parcels more frequently, maritime applications… you name it. Having access to connectivity globally can create new business opportunities, and has the potential to improve your current business.
Want to meet the entrepreneurs driving this change? The Disrupt Space Summit 2017 will gather industry executives and startups to have a conversation about Space and IoT. If you want to learn about how space connectivity can help your business, save the date next 14–15th March, and join us in Berlin!
