Photo: Skylo

Skylo is partnering with BSNL, India’s government-owned telecommunications provider, to deploy a satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) network in India, the company revealed Dec. 10. This news comes after Skylo raised $103 million in a Series B round in January, led by SoftBank Group.

Skylo and BSNL plan to connect millions of sensors and machines from space, so that business owners anywhere can make smarter and more timely decisions. Skylo supplies the hardware in the form of a rugged hub device, which connects to satellites that are already in use. The companies report that successful proof of concepts have already been conducted, and the network is being rolled out across India with select customers in the government and private sectors. The network is currently being integrated and tested on trucks, commercial vehicles, railways, and fishing vessels in India.

“For centuries, industries including agriculture, railways, and fisheries, have been operating in the physical world and haven’t had the opportunity to take full advantage of modern digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), IoT, and space connectivity, regardless of their geography – until today,” said Skylo CEO and Co-Founder Parth Trivedi. “With Skylo and BSNL, fishermen, farmers, and truck drivers can access the benefits of an affordable, reliable satellite network and connected sensors, giving them up to the minute information. As a result, they’ll be able to make better decisions, save time and money, radically improve operations, and even save the lives of their workers.”