OQ Technology Makes its 5G Satellite Service Commercially Available

OQ Technology has started the first commercial use of its 5G satellite constellation, in what it says is a world first deployment of low-earth orbit satellites for IoT device coverage.

The constellation has been launched as part of a $1.1 million contract with an undisclosed utilities major. OQ is to deploy its terminals across oil and gas wellheads to enable the customer’s real-time, consistent monitoring of asset performance, as well as detecting and preventing any potential leakages. 

The company says its constellation uses a low latency network, which it identifies as “critical for many applications such as environmental monitoring, smart metering, asset tracking and vehicle telematics.”

Under the contract, OQ Technology is also introducing “OQ-Secure,” a private network providing 5G connectivity for IoT devices based on standardized 3GPP cellular technology for narrowband IoT.

The announcement comes as part of OQ’s plans to expand its constellation from three satellites to 10 this year, enabling near-consistent coverage.

“This commercial product suite and contract is the start of a whole new ballgame,” said Omar Qaise, OQ’s CEO. “In addition to funding and contracts to prove a certain technology, we are now making revenue based on our 5G IoT satellite constellation and delivering the services and products it can provide.

“The new product isn’t just your ordinary satellite to terminal device network, but a fully-fledged product suite that gives our customers flexibility over their network management, security, ease of integration, and interoperability with their existing terrestrial cellular network.”