The Things Network to provide LoRaWAN Satellite connectivity for evaluation in 2020
Global LoRaWAN network service provider, The Things Industries, a global LoRaWAN® network service provider, in partnership with Lacuna Space will be the first LoRaWAN operator to be routing LoRaWAN messages received by their space gateways for end users. This announcement was made earlier today at The Things Conference with a live demonstration of messages being routed via the satellite transmission. With the help of this service, LoRaWAN operators will be able to extend their network by providing satellite connectivity to fill voids between the terrestrial gateways out of cellular reach and give continuous global coverage.
The Things Industries provides a global network with a platform to setup base station (LoRaWAN gateways) infrastructure at low cost with carrier grade capabilities. Lacuna Space is set to launch a series of LoRaWAN gateways into orbit capable of receiving LoRaWAN messages from the ground. After an initial commissioning and experimental phase, the first 3 months of operation will be an evaluation service allowing the global LoRaWAN ecosystem to test the service which will be a paid service in the future.
With this partnership, features of The Things Industries network server will be directly brought to the LoRaWAN space ecosystem. The newly introduced service will enable LoRaWAN operators to extend their network by providing satellite connectivity to fill the gaps between the terrestrial gateways out of cellular reach and give continuous global coverage. The service will be ideal for asset tracking, smart agriculture, and monitoring in remote areas.
Lacuna Space will launch a series of LoRaWAN gateways into orbit capable of receiving LoRaWAN messages from the ground. At about 500km above the surface, these satellites will revolve around the earth and pass over the poles every 100 minutes. The messages are sent using the LoRaWAN protocol, which is suitable for devices that require long battery life and telemetry data. The satellite stores the data for a short time after which it is relayed to an application on a terrestrial network.
This is putting the power of space in the hands of everybody. With exponential innovation as a result. Democratizing this common space, called space.
Wienke Giezeman, CEO, The Things Industries
We are driven by the vision of connecting billions of devices, even in the most remote places on the globe, using open standards. Network integration is the second hardest problem for the IoT after connectivity. The integration with The Things Industries allows easy transfer of messages from the Lacuna Space network to the end application. This announcement builds on a longstanding collaboration which allows the customers of The Things Industries to access the Lacuna Space network at a touch of a button!.
Thomas Telkamp, Co-Founder & CTO, Lacuna Space
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