Open Cosmos has unveiled a global space-based IoT service that fuses global IoT connectivity with real-time Earth observation data to deliver contextual intelligence to governments and institutions across the world.

The platform is said to be the world’s largest and most advanced integrated data ecosystem, powered by the company’s multi-layer satellite architecture, a trilogy of broadband secure connectivity, Earth observation and IoT. It will enable organisations to monitor, understand and respond to events on Earth with speed and insight.

Across the entire Open Cosmos constellation – including the recently launched ConnectedCosmos low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity backbone and OpenConstellation Earth observation layer – every satellite will carry an integrated IoT payload. Usually these are separate systems, with data being connected or integrated on the ground, but with Open Cosmos, the satellites can observe, communicate and trigger actions in one integrated system. 

In doing this, Open Cosmos is addressing the traditionally siloed nature of space-based data services, accelerating data delivery times and increasing operational awareness. It will monitor environmental change and support disaster response across the globe, even in remote regions.

By combining ground IoT sensor data with rapid satellite imagery, governments and industries can detect events as they happen and quickly understand what is taking place on the ground, whether managing widely distributed assets, overseeing critical infrastructure and operational sites such as energy, utility and rail networks, protecting oceans, tracking wildfires, or monitoring offshore conditions.

Today, operational awareness across many IoT services remains limited. While users may receive data on site status and alerts indicating an issue has occurred, they often lack the visibility needed to understand the scale, context or urgency of the problem.

“Our mission at Open Cosmos has always been focused on solving real world issues through space-based services,” said Danielle Edwards, vice president at UK-based Open Cosmos. “This is an essential and critical technology service for governments, enterprises and institutions across the globe, helping to monitor and solve real world problems, with the innovative use of technology in space.”

The firm’s existing Earth observation satellites already carry IoT payloads, so it has the experience to integrate further through the ConnectedCosmos LEO constellation, with each satellite being designed and made to carry IoT capabilities. The aim is to provide a multitude of payload types within a single constellation to give users a bespoke service.

“We won’t be just providing the data from a sensor, we will provide the visual imagery to explain why those data are changing,” said Edwards. “As demand for global monitoring and connected infrastructure continues to grow, our integrated approach represents a new model for space-enabled intelligence.”

Open Cosmos (www.open-cosmos.com) is working with partners and early adopters across government and industry to explore applications for the new capability. The packaged data products are tailored to each user’s requirement with flexibility. Pricing will vary depending on the scale and requirements of individual deployments. The firm says the IoT offering will provide more competitive rates and speeds than existing services but add value through this multi-layered data analytic approach.