Can't Spell 'Trio' without 'IoT' - EchoStar Mobile, Actility and Swisscom Explore Network Solutions

Let’s talk about EchoStar Mobile, Actility and Swisscom, readers. In terms of IoT coverage-centric news, this is quite the triple-threat type of update.

• EchoStar Mobile is a premier global provider of secure satellite communications, and such solutions have huge potential for customers to access new communications services; particularly in rural or less populated/underserved regions.

• It’s been a hot minute since we’ve covered Actility. Led by telecom and technology experts with backgrounds in networking technologies, IoT, VoIP, M2M, 4G/5G and much more – split well between members of its leadership team – Actility provides public and enterprise IoT connectivity solutions for verticals like smart cities, Industry 4.0, energy and utilities, logistics and supply chain operations and the like.

• Swisscom AG is a major ICT company based in Switzerland – the Swiss Confederation owns about 51% – and it offers comprehensive mobile, internet, TV, IT and myriad other digital services (plus devices and accessories) to both private and business customers.

So, that’s the three-part context. Here’s the actual update:

Last week, Swisscom announced that it has officially turned to EchoStar Mobile and Actility to further expand its LoRaWAN IoT footprint, wherein EchoStar will provide capacity to support direct sensor-to-satellite operations and Actility will provide necessary interworking functions between Swisscom’s terrestrial network and EchoStar’s satIoT. This will enable, as the companies described, “seamless network roaming possibilities” through Actility’s ThingPark Exchange roaming hub.

Prior to working with EchoStar Mobile and Actility, Swisscom relied on the aforementioned terrestrial connectivity to provide IoT-powered solutions for managing smart metering, environmental monitoring, tracking, agriculture and smart building use cases.

Now, with this update, a bringing-tech-forward upgrade is certainly in the cards.

“Satellite connectivity serves as a powerful complement to our terrestrial LoRaWAN network, enabling the connection of IoT devices abroad and also in economically challenging rural areas,” stated Fredy Portmann, Head of Connected Business Solutions at Swisscom. “Through the seamless integration of EchoStar connectivity into our Swisscom Connectivity Management Platform, we empower our customers to roll out devices and experience a truly borderless IoT connectivity. This dynamic synergy expands the reach of our network, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for businesses in a seamlessly connected world.”