Myriota launches satellite NB-IoT with Viasat; Sateliot closes €70m Series B round

Myriota Deploys Satellite NB-IoT with Viasat as Sateliot Secures $70M Series B to Scale Space-Based 5G Connectivity

The global Internet of Things (IoT) landscape is advancing at an accelerating pace, driven by increased demand for real-time tracking, automation, and data intelligence across sectors including agriculture, logistics, energy, and infrastructure. As device connectivity scales into the tens of billions, traditional terrestrial networks face limitations in remote coverage, uptime, and integration cost. This opens the door for satellite-based IoT — a rapidly expanding frontier fueled by innovation, investment, and regulatory momentum.

Simultaneously, the commercial space industry is undergoing a radical transformation. The decreased cost of launching small satellites, advancements in low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, and cross-industry partnerships are reshaping competitive dynamics. This shift not only widens market access for providers but also intensifies the race to deliver ubiquitous, low-power connectivity from orbit.

Overlaying this evolution is the rollout of 5G. Its high throughput, low latency, and massive device support present new opportunities when combined with satellite infrastructure. Interoperability between terrestrial 5G and satellite Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) now enables seamless global coverage for mobile and stationary applications alike — a decisive leap in how industries manage assets and data beyond traditional network borders.

Decoding Satellite Connectivity and the Power of NB-IoT

Core Principles of Satellite Communication

Satellite communication relies on orbiting satellites acting as relay points between ground stations and end-user devices. Signals travel from a transmitter on Earth to a satellite, which then redirects them to a receiving station or device elsewhere on the globe. This approach bypasses terrestrial limitations, covering terrains and distances that fiber optics or cellular towers cannot traverse.

Satellites support various orbits—geostationary, medium Earth orbit (MEO), and low Earth orbit (LEO). LEO satellites, like those used by Myriota and Sateliot, orbit between 500 to 2,000 kilometers above Earth, offering lower latency and reduced power requirements compared to geostationary systems.

Global reach: Satellite communication covers regions with no cellular infrastructure.
Scalability: Once a satellite is operational, its coverage area doesn’t require additional infrastructure investment.
Resilience: Satellite networks are less vulnerable to ground-based failures like power outages or natural disasters.

Challenges do exist. Launch costs remain substantial, latency—although lower with LEO satellites—is still greater than fiber-based networks, and bandwidth can be limited in spectrum-constrained situations.

What Sets NB-IoT Apart in Wireless Networking

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is a 3GPP-standardized radio technology developed specifically for IoT applications requiring efficient data transmission with minimal power usage. Unlike LTE or 5G used for rich media and real-time data, NB-IoT targets devices that send small data volumes infrequently—ideal for smart sensors and meters.

Functioning within licensed frequency spectra, NB-IoT operates through three deployment modes: standalone, guard band, and in-band, each utilizing spectrum gaps to avoid interference. Its design supports massive device density—up to 50,000 devices per NB-IoT cell according to GSMA specifications—and extends battery life beyond 10 years thanks to Power Saving Mode (PSM) and extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX).

Low power consumption: Suitable for battery-powered sensors in inaccessible locations.
Long-range connectivity: Signals can penetrate deep indoors or underground, reaching sensors in basements or sewer systems.
Cost efficiency: Minimal bandwidth usage and simplified radio hardware reduce total device costs.

Satellite-Enabled NB-IoT for Remote Coverage

Integrating NB-IoT with satellite infrastructure unlocks connectivity in regions far from terrestrial networks—think agricultural fields, open oceans, deserts, and remote mining sites. Where legacy networks falter, satellite NB-IoT ensures delivery of critical telemetry and machine status updates.

By leveraging satellite connectivity, NB-IoT devices maintain real-time data channels without requiring proximity to a terrestrial tower. Myriota and Sateliot capitalize on LEO constellations for this purpose, offering uplinks directly from ground-based IoT sensors to satellite nodes, then relaying them to cloud-based platforms for processing and analytics.

Consider this: how do you track livestock in Western Australia or monitor monoxide levels in the Andes? In both scenarios, satellite NB-IoT delivers where traditional models fail.

Myriota: Shaping the Future of IoT from Orbit

Origins and Growth Trajectory

Founded in 2015 as a spin-out from the University of South Australia, Myriota began with a clear objective—democratize access to data from remote and underserved regions using nanosatellites. The company's roots lie in sophisticated research on ultra-low-power communications protocols tailored for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. With headquarters in Adelaide, the company quickly moved from academic innovation to real-world deployment, securing early partnerships and launching its first nanosatellite in 2018.

Since then, Myriota has steadily expanded both its fleet and footprint. In 2020, it acquired assets from Canadian firm exactEarth, including ground stations and spacecraft, accelerating its global coverage. Today, Myriota operates one of the most advanced direct-to-orbit communication networks for IoT sensors—bringing data connectivity to forests, deserts, oceans, and other traditionally unreachable geographies.

Technological Edge and Innovation Pipeline

Myriota’s disruptive value comes from integrating three key areas: power efficiency, security, and scalability. The company’s proprietary communication protocol enables devices to transmit data directly to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites using minimal power—battery-operated sensors can operate for 10+ years without replacement.

Myriota encrypts data end-to-end, ensuring secure transmission from device to satellite to ground station. Its network architecture supports millions of daily messages, with latitude for both low-data telemetry and high-frequency updates depending on customer needs. Devices can be activated with lightweight software updates and connect autonomously to the satellite constellation without complex network configurations.

The firm also holds multiple international patents related to LEO-based IoT messaging, which enable spectrum efficiency and robust coverage even in cluttered RF environments.

Market Strategy and US Expansion

Backed by strategic growth rounds—including a $28 million Series B in 2020 led by Hostplus and Main Sequence Ventures—Myriota has built a strong commercial roadmap. Its partners span agriculture, utilities, logistics, and environmental monitoring. In agriculture, for example, Myriota's solutions allow remote water tanks and soil sensors to send critical status updates multiple times per day, even from rural paddocks with zero cellular coverage.

In the US, Myriota established a presence in 2021 through a partnership with SpaceX and a local AWS IoT integration initiative. Its technology complies with FCC operational guidelines, enabling device deployments nationwide. Retailers now offer Myriota-enabled modules and dev kits through North American distributors, speeding adoption among system integrators and OEMs.

Enabling Satellite-Powered IoT at Scale

Myriota plays a central role in creating the infrastructure required for global NB-IoT via satellite. The company’s scalable stack—from embedded silicon modules to ground-side visualization dashboards—gives developers and enterprises full-stack access to remote data operations without investing in ground networks.

As industries shift toward precision systems and real-time telemetry, Myriota’s approach reduces latency, shrinks operational blind spots, and slashes deployment costs. By extending the IoT frontier beyond the reach of terrestrial networks, Myriota positions itself as a foundational layer in the emerging global ecosystem of space-based connectivity.

Expanding Horizons: Myriota and Viasat Unite for Global NB-IoT Coverage

Strategic Collaboration Marks a New Era in Satellite IoT

Myriota's alliance with Viasat opens a high-powered gateway for narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) devices to communicate globally. This strategic partnership leverages Viasat’s satellite infrastructure, which includes the expansive ViaSat-3 constellation, to extend Myriota’s NB-IoT capabilities far beyond traditional terrestrial limits. With this move, Myriota gains access to reliable, high-throughput systems that enhance both coverage and data throughput.

Viasat's Core Strengths Amplify Myriota's Service Reach

Viasat brings to the table a robust portfolio of broadband satellites, ground networks, and spectrum assets. These elements provide consistent, near real-time connectivity across air, land, and sea. For Myriota, tapping into this network translates into:

Seamless global coverage: Devices can now operate across continents without dependence on cellular infrastructure.
Low-latency data transport: Enhanced routing through Viasat’s Tier-1 network reduces transmission delays crucial for time-sensitive IoT applications.
Interoperability: Myriota’s NB-IoT modules integrate smoothly with Viasat’s ecosystem, enabling plug-and-play deployment across multiple verticals.

Global Connectivity Redefining IoT Possibilities

Myriota and Viasat’s combined capabilities unlock new sectors previously excluded from IoT adoption due to coverage gaps. Use cases in remote mining, agriculture, maritime logistics, and environmental monitoring now gain a direct channel to the cloud. Large-scale deployment becomes possible even in regions lacking terrestrial infrastructure.

Consider the logistics of a shipping vessel hundreds of kilometers off-shore or sensor networks embedded in the Australian outback. With this partnership, those assets transmit data in near real time—without needing human intervention or reliance on ground towers.

This collaboration does more than just expand Myriota’s footprint—it lays the technological foundation for unified IoT connectivity on a planetary scale. How will industries evolve when every asset can report its status from anywhere in the world?

Fueling Scaling Innovation: Sateliot’s $70M Series B Boost

Strategic Investment Accelerates Expansion and Innovation

Sateliot has secured $70 million in a Series B funding round, marking a pivotal advancement in its bid to become a dominant force in satellite-based IoT connectivity. This capital injection positions the Barcelona-based company to launch the first 5G NB-IoT constellation operating in low Earth orbit (LEO) under 3GPP standard, enabling massive-scale global connectivity for unmodified NB-IoT devices.

Deployment, Infrastructure, and Product Roadmap

With the fresh funding, Sateliot plans to scale its satellite constellation from one operational satellite to a fleet of over 250 by 2025. The deployment phase will include strategic launches via rideshare missions, followed by streamlined commercialization of its services targeting agriculture, logistics, maritime, and energy sectors.

Satellite launches: Incremental rollouts will ensure continuous coverage and global roaming compatibility with terrestrial networks.
R&D scaling: Additional resources will be allocated toward software-defined networking and inter-satellite communication to optimize latency and power consumption.
Global sales and support infrastructure: Expansion into North America, Asia-Pacific, and Middle Eastern markets via regional offices and business development hubs.

This funding also supports onboarding new NB-IoT use cases by integrating Sateliot’s services directly with mobile network operators, allowing seamless switching between terrestrial and non-terrestrial infrastructure using standard SIMs and devices.

Venture Capital Fuels Aerospace Ambitions

In this Series B round, key investors included Spain’s CDTI (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology), Indra, and Cellnex. Their involvement reflects growing confidence in LEO constellation-based connectivity as a scalable component of global telecommunications infrastructure.

Venture capital is no longer just speculative in aerospace—it’s now engineering exponential growth cycles. From R&D to deployment, VCs play a direct role in shortening go-to-market timelines and unlocking scale economies. Sateliot’s funding round didn’t just validate its market potential—it sent a signal that satellite NB-IoT is now a VC-worthy vertical with real-world returns on the horizon.

The Economic Aspects: Startup Funding and Market Opportunities

Startup Funding Dynamics: The Role of Series B Investment

Series B funding signals a company’s progression beyond initial product-market validation. It fuels expansion—scaling operations, hiring talent, increasing market share, and refining product lines. In May 2024, Sateliot secured a €73 million ($78 million) Series B round led by Telefónica, Indra, Cellnex, and Sener. This funding round featured a blended equity and venture debt structure, reflecting investor confidence in space-based IoT innovation. The round follows Sateliot’s commercial launches with Telefónica and aligns with its plan to deploy the first 5G-standard satellite IoT constellation.

Compared to Series A, Series B carries higher stakes. Investors shift focus from potential to performance. Metrics like Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), gross margins, and customer retention become decisive. Sateliot met these expectations by proving technical feasibility and landing long-term commercial deals.

Funding at this stage often includes strategic investors—corporations seeking access to emerging tech ecosystems. Their participation de-risks the venture and bridges it to the global market.

Market Evaluation: Demand Horizon for Satellite IoT

Estimates from Straits Research place the satellite IoT market value at $1.69 billion in 2022, with forecasts projecting growth to $10.72 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 22.1%. This trajectory underscores escalating demand across logistics, maritime, agriculture, and energy sectors. Terrestrial networks leave nearly 85% of the planet disconnected. Satellite NB-IoT closes that gap with minimal power consumption, narrow bandwidth, and wide-area coverage.

Emerging economies in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America—bearing the brunt of infrastructure gaps—present untapped markets. Additionally, regulations favoring decarbonization and resilience in supply chains drive demand for remote monitoring through low-cost IoT terminals enabled by satellite NB-IoT.

Private Investment: Catalyst for Sectoral Innovation

Public institutions offer foundational research and regulatory frameworks, but the capital thrust of satellite IoT depends heavily on private equity and venture capital. Viasat's partnership with Myriota, followed by Sateliot’s Series B, illustrates how private capital accelerates constellation-building, standards adoption, and interface development with terrestrial telecoms.

The cost of developing, launching, and operating even small LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites requires robust funding backbones. Investors not only supply capital but unlock global distribution networks, co-develop applications, and reduce go-to-market times. Without this injection of early- and mid-stage funding, commercial satellite NB-IoT at scale would remain a theoretical capability rather than a practical one.

Myriota’s approach—raising strategic rounds earlier to establish proprietary tech and pursue interoperability with major telecom partners—demonstrates funding as a lever for first-mover advantage.
Sateliot’s roadmap—from R&D to commercial scaling—relies on milestone-based investment cycles, each unlocking higher-orbit growth.

Private capital drives the transformation of satellite IoT from conceptual mapping to global utility. Every funding round reflects not just backing for a company but for a connected planetary infrastructure designed to serve industries across borders and beyond geographies.

Satellite NB-IoT: Transforming Industries and Lives

Changing Operations Across Key Sectors

Satellite NB-IoT expands connectivity far beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. This technology redefines operations in industries that rely on remote sensing, real-time tracking, and low-power data transmissions.

Agriculture: Livestock GPS tracking, soil moisture sensors, and water usage data from irrigation systems now flow without dependence on nearby towers. Farmers optimize yields and cut resource wastage across expansive, off-grid fields.
Logistics: Maritime shipping lines and overland freight operators track container location and temperature during international transit. Connectivity persists from sea to shore, regardless of terrestrial coverage.
Environmental Monitoring: Forest fire detection, glacier melt tracking, and air quality measurement in national parks all deliver actionable data to agencies in real time.
Utilities: Energy providers monitor infrastructure performance in hard-to-reach areas. Oil well telemetry, pipeline pressure, and remote metering become fully accessible.
Defense and Public Safety: Emergency signal systems in disaster-prone zones remain active when terrestrial lines fail. Border surveillance and military assets relay data securely across global theatres.

Bridging the Digital Divide

More than 2.6 billion people worldwide live in areas with limited or no internet access, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Satellite NB-IoT networks make genuine inroads in bridging that divide. Devices deployed in rural villages, mountain settlements, and isolated archipelagos join the global data fabric—sometimes for the first time.

Healthcare teams share patient vitals from mobile clinics in the Sahel. Educators in outback Australia access updated e-learning materials. Micro-lenders in Southeast Asia pursue EMI collection through secure, small-packet transactions—no broadband cables needed.

With latency under one second and message sizes optimized for sensor communication, satellite NB-IoT suits the connected needs of underserved regions where other solutions fail either technically or commercially.

Regulations Evolve to Support Space-Based Networks

Regulatory bodies have begun adapting to the paradigm of satellite-powered NB-IoT. In 2022, the European Union established decision frameworks for non-terrestrial networks (NTN), enabling low-density satellite IoT deployments across member states. Similar momentum continues elsewhere: the U.S. Federal Communications Commission includes NB-IoT satellite services under its streamlined Part 25 licensing procedures, accelerating market availability.

Meanwhile, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has issued draft recommendations under Study Group 20 to ensure harmonization of frequency allocation for massive machine-type communications via LEO constellations. Policymakers are moving out of reaction and into anticipation, opening channels for industry and government cooperation on spectrum sharing, device certification, and user safety standards.

Adaptation isn't optional—it’s underway.

Venture Capital: Catalyst for Aerospace Innovation

Accelerating Disruption Through Capital Infusion

Venture capital shapes the trajectory of aerospace startups by supplying not just funding, but also strategic insight and access to vital networks. In a sector where prototyping costs can exceed millions and go-to-market timelines span years, external investment acts as a launchpad for the first measurable breakthroughs. For startups like Sateliot, securing €70 million in Series B funding isn’t merely a financial milestone; it’s a statement of investor confidence in both the business model and underlying technology.

In aerospace, capital goes far beyond burn rate coverage. It fuels R&D cycles, enables constellation scale-ups, and pays for satellite launches, regulatory clearances, and the recruitment of critical technical talent. Consider how the high cost of entry into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks restricts smaller players—venture funding bridges that gap, unlocking early influence in global infrastructure build-outs.

Investors and Innovators: A Strategic Partnership

Unlike in traditional sectors, venture investors in aerospace lean heavily on long-term vision and ecosystem growth. This creates a symbiotic relationship. Startups offer disruptive potential—satellite-based NB-IoT, for instance, introduces scalable, ultra-low power communication to rural and offshore regions with zero terrestrial coverage. In return, investors provide early capital, portfolio synergy, and governance structures that transform moonshots into operating networks.

The value exchange runs deep. Investors gain first-mover advantage into space-based data economies, while startups receive real-time market validation through investor connections to manufacturing, telecom, and defense channels. This dynamic enables firms like Myriota to fast-track project lifecycles and close cross-border deployment partnerships such as their collaboration with Viasat.

Who’s Backing the Next Space Giants?

Among the most active venture capital firms in aerospace, several names dominate the cap tables of leading satcom startups:

Seraphim Capital: A specialist in space tech investment, with stakes in global satcom, EO, and in-orbit servicing ventures.
Lux Capital: Known for high conviction bets on deep tech, including defense-grade satellite systems and orbital propulsion companies.
Bessemer Venture Partners: Their investment thesis in aerospace supports dual-use technologies that span civilian and military applications.
Space Capital: With over $100 million deployed exclusively in space economy startups, their portfolio spans navigation, satellite internet, and geospatial analytics.

Private equity arms of aerospace giants have also entered the arena. Airbus Ventures and Boeing HorizonX invest heavily in complementary innovations that feed back into their parent OEM pipelines. These investments align emerging tech breakthroughs with high-reliability aerospace manufacturing standards.

Who funds the infrastructure of tomorrow? The answer increasingly points to venture capital. With each round closed, companies like Sateliot move closer toward seamless satellite-cellular NB-IoT integration—backed not only by capital, but belief in a connected future shaped from orbit.

Challenges and Prospects: The Future of IoT and Satellite Communication

Technological Barriers and Competitive Pressure

Satellite NB-IoT systems face immediate technical constraints. Bandwidth limitations, latency management, and power consumption for low-Earth orbit (LEO) devices continue to challenge engineers. While NB-IoT was designed for ground-based infrastructure, adapting it to space-based applications requires new hardware standards, robust protocols for intermittent connectivity, and tighter satellite coordination.

Competition intensifies from legacy operators like Iridium and Inmarsat, as well as from fast-moving startups pushing direct-to-device satellite technologies. Amazon's Kuiper and SpaceX's Starlink aim to monopolize orbital real estate and spectrum, heightening the urgency for Myriota and Sateliot to innovate swiftly and secure regulatory advantage.

Device integration also poses structural friction. Satellite NB-IoT terminals must remain compact, low-cost, and compatible with existing terrestrial networks. Without seamless interoperability, adoption will stall across major segments like asset tracking, smart agriculture, and maritime logistics.

Strategic Outlook for Myriota, Viasat, and the Space IoT Landscape

Myriota’s partnership with Viasat places its service model on a global foundation. Viasat’s satellite infrastructure accelerates scaling without requiring Myriota to heavily invest in ground stations, enabling rapid expansion into underserved regions. Together, the two companies are positioned to standardize cross-border IoT connectivity via a unified satellite-terrestrial hybrid model.

Looking ahead, Myriota is expected to enhance payload efficiency through software-defined radios and advanced modulation techniques. Viasat’s roadmap includes capacity-rich geostationary and LEO constellations, which could directly support large-scale IoT traffic loads. As Sateliot channels its €70 million Series B funds into launching 5G NB-IoT satellites, it threatens to redefine connectivity at a global scale—potentially outpacing incumbents by delivering standardized 3GPP compliance from orbit.

Firms unable to evolve their firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) strategies or integrate data processing at the edge will likely lose ground. The space IoT sector won't tolerate laggards. Myriota and Sateliot must lead through miniaturization, energy efficiency, and intelligent routing systems.

Long-Term Impact: Wireless Communication Unbound

Satellite NB-IoT promises to erase geographic blind spots permanently. In sectors like oil & gas, fisheries, remote agriculture, and environmental sensing, devices will relay data from locations historically invisible to carriers. This isn’t speculative. Deloitte projects that by 2025, over 30% of new IoT connections worldwide will require non-terrestrial networks.

Over time, the convergence of satellite NB-IoT and AI-driven analytics will allow real-time decision-making in the most remote conditions. Helicopter inspections of pipelines will be replaced by autonomous drones powered by real-time satellite-fed data. Temperature-sensitive cargo will self-monitor via global NB-IoT sensors, initiating alerts without human intervention.

As these use cases scale, expect a transformation in wireless communication economics. What was once cost-prohibitive satellite communication will evolve into a mass-market utility. Pricing models already reflect this momentum—downlink costs from LEO satellites have dropped by nearly 70% since 2018, according to NSR’s 2023 Satellite IoT Report.

Who will control the constellation-to-device market in five years? That depends on more than launch schedules or venture rounds. It will hinge on ecosystem orchestration, protocol compliance, and interoperability. Satellite NB-IoT is no longer an experiment—it’s shaping up to be the next global network standard.

Connecting the Dots: How Myriota, Viasat, and Sateliot Are Shaping the Next Frontier

Myriota's launch of satellite-powered NB-IoT with support from Viasat, and Sateliot’s successful $70 million Series B funding round, signals a decisive moment in the convergence of aerospace infrastructure and mass-scale IoT connectivity. These aren’t isolated initiatives but interconnected moves reshaping how devices communicate across vast distances, filling the blind spots left by traditional terrestrial networks.

This trio of initiatives reflects a larger momentum pushing the satellite IoT segment into mainstream application. From asset tracking in remote mining operations to powering smart agriculture across continents, the practical scope continues to widen. With escalating capital inflow and international collaboration, the aerospace-IoT nexus isn’t just viable—it’s scalable.

Now is the moment to pay attention. These projects are live. The funding is real. The technology is deployed or in development. Follow Myriota, Viasat, and Sateliot to keep pace with the unfolding reality of global NB-IoT access fuelled by low Earth orbit constellations. Some of the most influential infrastructure for the next data-driven economy is being built silently, well above the clouds.