Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS) has announced that Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is working with the company to develop new 4G LTE for satellite technologies for worldwide deployment — the two companies are enabling LTE end user devices to connect directly to geostationary satellites in a world-first achievement with wide application.
According to industry analysts, satellite is a critical component of communications networks, including IoT and M2M networks, as the industry evolves to 4G, 5G and beyond. Northern Sky Research predicts that by 2023 there will be 5.8 million machine-to-machine (M2M) and IoT connections via satellite worldwide.
This project with Lockheed Martin is the latest development Sequans has undertaken as part of its “Custom Technology Solutions” initiative where company experts have addressed some of the world’s most difficult and exciting communications challenges. In addition to satellite, Sequans has adapted its technology for projects in other markets, including aviation, transportation, public safety, and government.
Executive Comments
Scott Landis, a director at Lockheed Martin, said Sequans has expertise adapting LTE technology for special purposes such as this one. Their engineers modified their existing LTE chips to enable a new LTE-to-satellite communication specification developed by Lockheed Martin. LTE to satellite represents an important breakthrough in mobility and connectivity.
Georges Karam, Sequans CEO, added that the work the company is doing with Lockheed Martin to integrate LTE with satellite represents a significant evolution as the firm's LTE chips are modified to take advantage of the huge satellite opportunity now developing for M2M and IoT applications. Enabling the LTE modem to speak to satellite networks as simply and as easily as possible will have a major impact on handling the huge potential volume of broadband and IoT applications that require space-based, ubiquitous communications, such as connected cars, shipping, and navigation.
