The Importance Of Satellite Connectivity In The M2M Environment

By Tim Last, vice president, M2M & strategic solutions, Iridium, www.iridium.com

The benefits of cellular connectivity for M2M applications are often touted, but here are a few reasons to consider satellite communications.

According to Harbor Research, in 2015, the number of satellite-connected devices with access to a global network is projected to surpass 2 billion and reach more than 28 billion by 2020. However, the networks supporting communication in the M2M business environment today are falling short of true worldwide reach. In fact, M2M solutions driven by cellular communication cover just 10 percent of the globe. Though terrestrial networks have long provided valuable services, and cellular solutions are positioned for continued growth in the wireless M2M market, there’s a growing demand for truly global, efficient, and cost-effective connectivity that can only be harnessed through satellite technology.