Definitive Guide to 5G with

Satellite Communications
Robin Duke-Woolley, CEO Beecham Research
According to the World Bank’s World Development Report 2023, 95% of the world’s population is concentrated on just 10% of the
world’s land mass. In the ITU’s Facts and Figures published in November 2022, 95% of the world’s population – not necessarily
the same 95% but pretty close – has access to cellular. That leaves a lot of the Earth’s surface – including land, sea and ice – not
covered by cellular, and a lot of space where ‘things’ are not connected.

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Use of satellite for IoT
Figure 1: Satellite IoT subscriber forecast
set to grow quickly
Cellular networks are located where most people are, but not
necessarily where ‘things’ are that need to be connected. As IoT 23900
becomes increasingly central to operations for businesses and many Satallite IoT Subscribers (m units)
other types of organisation, the other 80%+ of the Earth’s surface is
becoming increasingly important to connect to. Satellite looks to be
the clear option, but the traditionally higher connectivity costs have 16800
2023-27 CAGR: 42%
impeded growth. This is because most satellite communication today
is based on proprietary solutions – each constellation has its own
set of protocols. As a result, IoT applications connected via satellite 11800
typically have to reach a higher bar of added value before they can
justify being connected, which means they tend to be limited to 8300
mission critical activities. But that may soon change. 5900
3900 4500 2021-23 CAGR: 23%
LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) technologies are being
introduced for satellite use, which increases the standardisation and
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
the opportunity for lower costs. Some initiatives to combine LoRaWAN
(Long Range Wide Area Network) with satellite constellations have
already commenced. Meanwhile, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership
Project) has been working to extend 5G standards to include satellite
networks – referred to as Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) – in Release
17 and further in Release 18.

As a result, Figure 1 shows typical expectations for growth of satellite

IoT connections over the next few years with LPWAN satellite
connections becoming more evident from 2024 onwards. While CAGR
to 2023 is 23% per annum, from 2023 through 2027 it is 42% per annum
as these new technologies come to market.

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Introducing 5G to satellite
As the rate of adoption of mobile NTNs will deliver to smartphones, they will Figure 2: Typical altitudes and footprints of existing satellite systems
communication technology around the also have the capability to support both
world continues to rise, the goal of using industrial and governmental IoT devices for
it to provide seamless global coverage to verticals such as:
anyone, anywhere, at any time has become
increasingly important. This has led to • Agriculture/forestry -8km/s
major advances in both terrestrial and non- • Automotive
terrestrial satellite networking technology. • Healthcare
• Logistics/Track & Trace
Smooth interworking and integration of • Maritime transport
terrestrial network (TN) – such as cellular • National security/public safety -35,000km
-8,000km
networks – and non-terrestrial network • Railways -400-1,500km
(NTN) components is the next logical • Utilities -20km
10,000km
step on the coverage journey to provide • Weather/environmental monitoring -10km 100km
1,000km 15,000km

enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)

to consumer smartphones (direct-to- Different satellite systems have been used HAPS LEO MEO GEO
Airbus Starlink SES/O3B Eutelsat
smartphone) and Internet of Things (IoT) for years to provide services such as TV Softbank HAPS OneWeb Viasat
use cases. broadcasting, navigation, communications, Mobile Iridium Intelsat
Google Loon Telesat
surveillance, weather forecasting and Amazon Kuiper
Integration with satellite networking emergency systems. Figure 2 illustrates
technologies that can provide coverage the orbits of the three main satellite types
in areas that TNs cannot reach will help – geostationary (GEO), medium-Earth
to deliver resilient services to people and orbit (MEO) and low-Earth orbit (LEO) – in
businesses currently unserved in both comparison to a commercial aircraft and
developed and undeveloped parts of the high-altitude platform system (HAPS)
world, bringing potentially significant social providing local service coverage.
and economic benefits. Beyond the benefits

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GEO satellite systems are operated at a high typical footprint diameter of just 1000km – larger
altitude of about 35,000km, which introduces long constellations are needed.
latencies (>500ms) and limited data rates. GEOs
appear stationary to the device and provide a large 3GPP Release 17 has specified the use of GEO
field of view for a portion of the Earth’s surface, and LEO satellites for IoT connectivity via NTNs
such as Europe or North America but not both in a track known as IoT NTN. To a large extent
together. This makes them well suited for satellite this follows on from the Release 17 work done
television, business-to-business data services for direct-to-satellite smartphone use, termed
(such as trunking/backhauling and enterprise NR (meaning 5G New Radio) NTN. This work has
networking) and governmental services (such as resolved a wide range of key technical issues.
military satellite communication systems). For example, it includes reducing the number
of fast handovers between cells required for
MEO satellite systems such as Galileo, GPS (Global devices connected to LEO networks, by using
Positioning System) and GLONASS are mainly used beam steering to create Earth-fixed beams. Also,
for navigation and are typically deployed at an inserting pre-compensation delays for dealing
altitude of about 20,000km in a semi-synchronous with Doppler shift issues caused by round-trip
orbit that is predictable and reliable with an orbital delays and frequency shifts that would otherwise
period of 12 hours. There are constellations in MEO impact receiving stations.
that are also used for communications services
deployed at a height of about 8,000km. This leads IoT NTN includes adaptations to NB-IoT and
to a latency that is five times lower compared with LTE-M that will enable them to support NTNs.
GEO, providing higher data rates. Discontinuous coverage is a topic that is specific
to IoT NTN. Unlike smartphone use via satellite,
LEO satellite systems are used for services such many IoT NTN use cases do not need continuous
as Starlink, OneWeb, Iridium and Globalstar. These coverage. They may only need to transmit their
satellites operate at altitudes of 400km to 1,500km, data once every few hours. These types of use
where a higher speed of about 8km/s is required cases make it feasible to deploy constellations
to stay in orbit. The time to orbit the Earth is with fewer satellites. To support such operations,
then 90-120 minutes. LEO satellites provide the information needs be signalled to enable user
lowest latency and tens of megabits per second equipment to predict the times when it will
of capacity, making them suitable for MBB and have coverage. Release 18 will then extend these
IoT applications. As the footprint is notably capabilities further.
smaller compared with MEO and GEO – with

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What are the benefits of integrating
5G with satellite for IoT?
Essentially, integrating 5G with satellite, as envisaged in 3GPP Release 17, puts a Figure 3: GEO with proprietary protocols vs 5G protocol
stationary cell tower in the sky when considering GEO, or a fast-moving network
of cell towers when considering LEO. It means a single SIM will be able to
connect to both TN and NTN-compliant satellite networks.

Taking the case of GEO, incumbent satellite connectivity providers work

with proprietary devices and communication protocols. These are relatively N-TN
expensive due to relying on dedicated devices and the high cost of
infrastructure. As a result, customers have to invest in equipment that can
only be used with one constellation and are therefore locked in. This is justified XYZ protocol
(proprietary)
for critical applications, but it limits the range of applications that can be cost
effectively served.

In comparison, the use of 5G introduces the opportunity to use standardised

hardware made by many different suppliers for both TN and NTN use. This will
significantly increase the addressable market.

TN

XYZ protocol 5G protocol XYZ protocol

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A LEO NTN equipped with 5G is exactly the opposite scenario to a 5G TN. For NTN, the To meet these demands, satellites will need to serve a diversity of purposes ranging
‘cell towers’ are moving very quickly in relation to the connected devices, whereas for from the “last mile” problem to connections on the move, redundancy for critical
TN the devices move around static cell towers. Each LEO satellite is typically travelling emergency services, edge networking, and IoT dense traffic areas outside of the already
at 8km/s, or nearly 17,900 mph. That is equivalent to Mach 23 – 23 times the speed highly networked cities.
of sound. However, they are much further away from the devices than in a terrestrial
network and the line-of-sight range of the devices is much greater. The opportunity is to As a result, satellites as part of 5G are likely to play an increasingly significant role in
use a TN when you can, and NTN automatically when you cannot. This minimises the the future.
cost of universal coverage anywhere on the Earth’s surface.
Figure 4: Combination of TN and NTN using LEO
Taken further, the utility of satellite communications is more limited within cities
and in city-to-city communications because these are areas where fibre, terrestrial 4G
and 5G, and Wi-Fi already dominate and the lines of sight necessary for satellites are
significantly reduced. Nevertheless, integrating satellite and terrestrial systems will LEO constellation LEO satellites connect with
be necessary to meet the full spectrum of future demands likely to be placed on 5G standard 5G IoT devices
networks. These include:

1. with the proliferation of IoT devices, increasing traffic and number of

connections outside of dense city centres in more rural and remote areas.
2. providing coverage for devices on the move (such as a ship at sea or a car
driving cross country where there is variable coverage, such as across the US).
3. processing and data caching pushing progressively closer to the network edge
as a result of edge computing, and further away from areas of dense fibre
availability.

Take, for example, the connectivity needs of mobility. If you disconnect a mobile asset – 5G 5G NTN
a car, truck, plane, drone or ship – from the fibre network, it is possible to stay connected
using Wi-Fi and terrestrial 5G infrastructure so long as it is either in or in close
proximity to cities. Moving to more rural and remote areas, satellite communication has
the potential to provide reliable coverage and sufficient data density. As the number,
uses, and requirements of connectivity continue to evolve, so does the importance
of extending the promise of 5G networks beyond the urban and densely networked
communities.
G+D 5G core Data sent back to G+D network via Satellite 5G core
standard roaming agreement

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Use cases for TN + NTN IoT
5G together with satellite has potential and remote monitoring for preventive Figure 5: Typical near-term TN + NTN IoT use cases
for a wide range of IoT applications. Here maintenance are also of increasing
are some of the more compelling use interest. Telematics devices are often
cases for early deployment. designed to be low power and do not Utilities Environmental/
require a constant network connection, Weather Monitoring
Utilities which further makes satellite IoT a • Enhanced visibility
The effects of climate change have strong option. • Remote stations
brought utility networks covering
electricity, gas and water to particular Maritime
attention. Cellular networks are Transportation & Logistics Agriculture
increasingly being used for smart Cellular network coverage on roads and • Ships
metering and for utility network highways outside residential areas can • Cargo • Environmental monitoring
monitoring of supply and leakages. As a be patchy or non-existent yet the need is • Emission control • Pest management
low power alternative, NB-IoT is a front increasing. For telematics applications • Predictive maintenance • Irrigation management
runner for connectivity and extending that track vehicles, containers, or
this direct to satellite offers opportunities report the condition of goods across
for substantially increased visibility in shipping routes, satellite IoT connectivity
remote locations. provides a missing link for low-powered Transport & Logistics Government
telematics devices. This is particularly
useful for cross-border monitoring. • Tracking goods - • Global coverage
Maritime
Borderless & global • High security
There is little network infrastructure
• Vehicles
available on the ocean – the majority Oil & Gas
• Assets
of the Earth’s surface. The further Oil rigs need to operate wherever the
from the coastline, the less accessible oil is—and that is most often not where
connectivity solutions become. For network infrastructure is. Some oil
telematics applications where there is operations need to set up on the ocean, Oil & Gas Mining
a need, for example, to track shipping too far from cellular towers and other
containers and their contents, to recover traditional connectivity solutions. • Secure assets • Equipment
lost or stolen assets including vehicles, Securing remote assets is an issue, as • Regulatory compliance • Vehicles
or warn vessels of emergency situations, is the increasing need for ensuring and • Remote industry control • Environment
satellite IoT will increasingly have a proving regulatory compliance.
significant part to play. Emissions control

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Environmental/Weather
Climate change has also brought the need for higher visibility of the local environment
and local weather conditions, from all points of the Earth’s surface. Remote stations
may be on drifting buoys at sea, monitoring forestry or desert locations on land and
many others. Satellite is often the only viable connectivity method and improving the
efficiency and economics of this will likely significantly raise the visibility, particularly
in remote locations.

Agriculture
Agriculture increasingly relies on IoT to automate routine processes and make more
data-informed decisions. But remote rural environments can also create challenges
for traditional connectivity solutions. In environments where cellular coverage is
unavailable or spotty, satellite IoT can close coverage gaps for tech-enabled farming
operations.

Government
Governments need access to data in remote locations for security and other operational
needs. These applications are already substantial users of satellite connectivity.
Improvements in efficiency and economics opens opportunities for further
developments.

Mining
In remote mining areas, there is either no public cellular network coverage, or only
intermittent coverage available due to geographical conditions. This is where an NTN
connectivity solution via satellite is needed. When cellular land reception drops or is not
available, the IoT device uses the satellite network connection. Heavy equipment used
in mining locations can stay connected for tracking location, predictive maintenance or
remote condition monitoring, and emergency alerts.

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Recent related G+D announcements
1. G+D and Sateliot announce first iSIM with cellular and satellite connectivity

22/06/2023

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has agreed to cooperate with Sateliot, a satellite Global coverage in G+D’s IoT service offering will be ensured in the future by Sateliot’s
communications network operator headquartered in Barcelona. This will enable G+D satellite-based IoT connectivity and G+D’s cellular mobile network for IoT devices.
to offer users of its IoT services true global coverage. Whenever a terrestrial cellular The IoT devices automatically switch from cellular to satellite communication when
connection is unavailable, roaming to a satellite network is automatic. needed, without the user noticing.

As a provider of cellular IoT connectivity, G+D already connects numerous devices The devices are equipped with G+D’s SIM-technology. In principle, classic pluggable
across the planet. However, there are areas where there is no or only limited coverage SIM cards, eSIMs (embedded SIMs) or iSIMs (integrated SIMs) can be used here. The
with mobile networks, for example, at sea or in remote or rural areas. G+D is now closing iSIM solutions offer users the greatest benefits. They are characterized by low space
this coverage gap by cooperating with service provider Sateliot, which provides 5G requirements, optimized energy consumption, and low costs. In addition, iSIMs score
satellite connectivity for IoT. highly in terms of sustainability, which is ensured by the absence of any requirement
for SIM slots, additional housings or use of plastic. iSIMs are therefore increasingly the
Sateliot is the first provider to operate a LEO network that uses identical technologies first choice for secure IoT connectivity in NB-IoT applications.
for satellite and cellular connectivity. Unlike other solution approaches, this makes
satellite connectivity available at a low cost by extending the coverage footprint of Users can conveniently manage the SIMs and control all IoT activities via their IoT Suite.
MNOs and MVNOS through standard roaming integration. They can use it, for example, to analyze data, identify efficiency potential, or read off costs.

The LEO network will consist of a number of nanosatellites with 5G coverage for NB-IoT The potential range of applications for G+D’s new solution and service offering, which
in NTN. The first of five nanosatellites this year was sent into space on a SpaceX Falcon will be commercially available from the beginning of 2024, is far-reaching: conceivable
9 rocket on April 15, 2023. Sateliot is planning calls for an expansion to 64 nanosatellites applications include asset tracking, metering, smart farming and massive IoT
in 2024 and 250 in 2025. applications in general.

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2. G+D strengthens position in IoT market with acquisition of MECOMO AG

17/05/2023

G+D acquired MECOMO AG, a specialist in tracking and tracing solutions, in May Every day, more and more IoT devices and machines are being connected with each
2023. MECOMO, based in Munich/Unterschleissheim, Germany, is a software systems other via cellular networks. In addition to data authenticity and data security, reliable
house that provides end-to-end (E2E) telematics solutions for industrial and logistics global connectivity and powerful E2E solutions are essential. With the acquisition
enterprises. Founded in 2000, the company is the market leader in German-speaking of Pod Group in 2021, an Enterprise Network Operator (ENO) specializing in scalable,
Europe for the digitalization of fleet-based logistics processes. In addition, its connected mobile-networked solutions for the Internet of Things, G+D had already expanded its
solutions promote climate-friendly operations in supply chains where goods are range of solutions in this area. Through the acquisition of MECOMO, G+D becomes
shipped via different modes of transport. an IoT solution provider with a complete end-to-end portfolio for customers in the
transportation and logistics sector.
MECOMO is the leading provider in German-speaking Europe for maintenance-free
tracking solutions of all kinds of logistics objects without own power supply. This G+D’s offering includes market-leading eSIM technology. With eSIMs, the SIM chip
ranges from pallets and refrigerated containers to load carriers, freight cars and becomes permanently embedded into the device during manufacturing. Through a
sea containers. Eight of the ten largest Central European logistics companies are highly flexible and dynamic eSIM management solution, the associated connectivity
already using MECOMO’s fleet telematics. Growing customer groups include railroad profiles can be downloaded over-the-air and exchanged later at any time if required.
companies, airports, and defence and industrial companies. This offers enormous application and cost advantages, especially in the IoT area.

The company offers its customers a holistic IoT solution that enables them to optimally With the acquisition of MECOMO, G+D is now taking the next step in expanding its IoT
control and manage their goods and fleets, including solar-powered IoT devices and product portfolio and offering solutions from a single source. In doing so, the technology
sensors which are attached to logistics objects. They can be used not only to track group is making targeted investments into selected verticals, one example being the
location via GPS but also the condition of goods, for example, by measuring temperature logistics industry as one of the largest and fastest growing segments within the IoT
or humidity. The recorded data is collected, processed and analyzed on the company’s market.
own software platform. The features of the platform can be specifically tailored to the
customer’s needs, e.g. dynamic rules and reporting settings. Thus, all aspects of tracking
logistics objects and their condition in real time - from the warehouse location, through
the company premises, to cross-border transport by rail, ship and road - are addressed.
Direct transmission into various customer IT systems via a wide range of standardized
data interfaces is a decisive factor for logistics companies.

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G+D SIM and Connectivity Services
G+D’s IoT security features protect data generated from IoT devices. They support Figure 6: G+D’s IoT security features
cellular and non-cellular devices. Its core services are IoT Safe, IoT Protect, Zero-Touch
Provisioning, and SIGNiT®. The platform covers both the backend and SIM software.
It enables mobile operators to offer a consolidated toolbox to OEMs and enterprises. SIM inside your IoT device
They, in turn, are able to manage SIMs and other devices over the entire lifecycle – from
manufacturing and activation, to managing subscriptions and policies, all the way to
deactivation.

1. IoT Safe Network Authentication

Companies build IoT solutions for the marketplace, and these devices connect to cloud
platforms. The credentials, however, are mostly stored within the application processor
SIM / eSIM / iSIM
memory. This makes them an easy target for attacks. IoT Safe protects against threats
and provides cybersecurity by adding a secure element (a SIM card) to the IoT device. • Connectivity management service
It is equipped with an applet that assists with the authentication to the cloud provider. • Choose from our 600 networks in 185 countries
In addition, the offering includes a credential manager that controls and replaces
• Or authenticate to mobile network of choice
factory credentials. It also offers a device toolkit that provides documentation, which
includes the sample code that is used to assist the IoT device developer in securing the
communication between the IoT device app and the SIM applet.
Device Attestation E2E Data Encryption Data Integrity Device Provisioning
2. IoT Protect
The overall functionality of IoT Protect is to provide an end-to-end encryption/ IoT Safe IoT Project SIGNiT® Zero Touch
decryption mechanism for IoT applications. Information is transmitted securely Provisioning
between the IoT device and the backend, independent of the communication channel
(broadband, NB-IoT, Wi-Fi, etc.). Common applications for IoT Protect are those in which
data transfer is low, which is typical for low-end and battery powered IoT devices.
• Identify and connect • Encrypt your data • Sign your data for • Quick and efficient
your device to your end-to-end future verification scaling of IoT
cloud service • Revision proof deployments
• Automatic Device
Onboarding

IoT Use Cases

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3. SIGNiT® 6. Connectivity and Lifecycle Management with IoT Suite
SIGNiT® is a solution that provides data integrity for multi-party IoT ecosystems. It G+D’s IoT Suite is an innovative connectivity management platform that offers a new
helps sign every packet of IoT data generated so that they can be verified in the future – level of IoT management. This platform seamlessly integrates with all three major
starting directly at the source: the IoT sensor. Digital signatures for its data are provided eSIM specifications SGP.02, SGP.22 and SGP.32, ensuring maximum compatibility for
by either the SIM or eSIM. IoT devices. Devices and accounts can be visualized and monitored from a single
dashboard, which effortlessly integrates with existing systems, thanks to its open API
SIGNiT® combines secure and proven SIM environments with blockchain technology. and agnostic technology.
It allows to easily digitalize and secure processes in a decentralized ecosystem while
providing IoT users with comprehensive and robust security for data generated by
Figure 7: G+D satellite-related IoT connectivity offerings
IoT devices. The solution has already been successfully implemented in commercial
environments, and has potential in sectors like logistics, agriculture, energy and the
automotive industry.

4. Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

For businesses with large fleets of IoT devices in the field, getting these devices up and G+D offers global connectivity
running can involve a lot of time, effort, and cost. ZTP is a SIM-based application, for
quick, simple device onboarding with no device or platform dependencies.

This innovative tool uses the SIM to negotiate a trusted connection with your API upon
first network registration. The ZTP application also requests the device to report its Satellite TN + NTN
identification, while the location is obtained from the network registration info. This Only Bundle
info can be used to provision device settings when the device is switched on.
Non-terrestrial only use case (static), i.e., Mixed uses case (mobile), i.e.,
This enables quick scaling of device deployments and reduces device manufacturing • devices always out of terrestrial network connectivity or • devices in-and-out of terrestrial coverage
costs as security functions are shifted to the SIM. Large numbers of devices can • by intention satellite only
therefore be deployed simultaneously, enabling organizations to scale their IoT
deployments quickly and efficiently.

5. Connectivity
G+D also offers ‘out-of-the-box’ global connectivity, optimized specifically for IoT
applications. This covers over 600 mobile networks in 185 countries supplemented with
3GPP-based satellite network connectivity (NTN) for use in remote areas, meaning truly
global coverage is achieved.
Static Mobile

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Conclusion
Satellite connectivity based on open 3GPP specifications offers the best opportunity to create a large NTN ecosystem, enabling
connectivity between terrestrial systems and satellite systems on the same mobile platform. As satellite systems will not have
the same capacity as terrestrial systems, they should be viewed as complementary rather than competing systems. We expect
to see more cooperation between satellite operators and terrestrial communication service providers (CSPs) in the years ahead
to achieve mutual benefits in this area.

Thanks to their collaborations with satellite partners, G+D is poised to transform the landscape of IoT connectivity by
seamlessly integrating satellite communication into its services. This strategic move addresses current challenges in
network coverage, particularly in remote and rural areas, enabling users to experience uninterrupted global connectivity. This
integration eliminates barriers, allowing any NB-IoT device to effortlessly switch between satellite and cellular networks,
setting a new standard for flexible and efficient IoT connectivity.

As G+D moves towards the commercial availability of this integrated solution in mid-2024, the potential applications span a
wide range, from asset tracking to smart farming, marking a significant leap forward in the evolution of IoT connectivity. This
collaboration represents a pivotal moment where the future of connected devices is characterized by seamless, resilient, and
truly global networks.

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