Starlink Enters the IoT Arena: A Game Changer for Global Connectivity

Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, has officially launched its Internet of Things (IoT) services, fulfilling a promise made earlier to expand its reach beyond traditional internet access. This move marks a significant milestone in the satellite communication industry, particularly for the IoT sector. The initial deployment, in collaboration with New Zealand operator One NZ, focuses on a unique application: beehive monitoring.

This partnership between a satellite operator and a cellular network operator is a prime example of the evolving landscape in IoT. While various technological pathways exist for satellite communication, the deep collaboration between Starlink and cellular operators, especially those aligned with the 3GPP standard, is set to significantly bolster the strength of the 3GPP satellite communication technology route.

Beehive Monitoring: The First Starlink Direct-to-Cell IoT Application

The IoT service provided by One NZ, in partnership with local technology provider APIS Solutions, has deployed the world's first Starlink Direct-to-Cell IoT network. This network is specifically designed for beehive monitoring. Utilizing a simple, off-the-shelf module with minimal modifications, APIS has created devices that connect directly to Starlink. This ensures real-time beehive monitoring even in New Zealand's most remote areas, allowing beekeepers to remotely track honey collection efficiency or decide when to relocate hives to new pastures.

Starlink Direct-to-Cell: From Phones to IoT

Starlink's foray into IoT services is a natural extension of its Direct-to-Cell communication offerings. This service initially launched in the United States and has seen significant advancements.

In August 2022, SpaceX announced a partnership with US telecom operator T-Mobile. This collaboration aimed to create a new communication paradigm where Starlink satellites function as mobile cell towers in space, allowing unmodified mobile phones to connect directly to satellites. This initial phase focused on providing ubiquitous satellite-based text messaging for T-Mobile customers, utilizing T-Mobile's mid-band spectrum. At the time, both companies stated that Starlink V2 would be a new 5G network, broadcasting using a portion of T-Mobile US's mid-band spectrum and compatible with existing 5G smartphones.

By October 2023, Starlink announced on its official website plans to expand its Direct-to-Cell service from emergency texting to include voice, data, and IoT services, starting in 2025. This expansion is expected to be compatible with all LTE devices. Over the past few years, SpaceX has launched hundreds of Starlink satellites with Direct-to-Cell capabilities, contributing to comprehensive coverage for T-Mobile users. Industry analysts estimate that approximately 300 satellites are needed to initiate this service.

Recently, T-Mobile officially launched its dedicated satellite direct communication service, T-Satellite, built in collaboration with the Starlink satellite network. This service is not limited to T-Mobile customers; Verizon and AT&T users with compatible phones can also subscribe for $10 per month, while T-Mobile includes the service free in its 'Beyond Experience' plan. Satellite connectivity does not require any additional hardware or specialized phones; most smartphones released since 2020 will automatically connect to the Starlink network when outside terrestrial range.

T-Satellite relies on the 657 Direct-to-Cell enabled satellites currently in orbit, with SpaceX expected to launch more in the future. The T-Satellite system is based on the 3GPP R17 standard, supporting narrow-band communication like SMS and MMS in low-bandwidth environments. SMS services are available for both Android and iOS users, with Android users also able to send picture messages and short audio clips, and iOS compatibility expected later this year.

The Growing Influence of 3GPP in Satellite IoT

The T-Mobile T-Satellite service, as mentioned earlier, is built upon the 3GPP R17 standard, demonstrating the application of 3GPP technology. While One NZ's IoT service doesn't explicitly state its technical route, given that its terminals use existing cellular IoT modules, it is highly probable that this service also adopts the 3GPP technical route.

Industry experts suggest that SpaceX's shift from proprietary satellite communication solutions to Direct-to-Cell communication signifies a move towards open standard technical routes, with 3GPP being the largest open standard. According to GSA data, as of April last year, over 15 cellular network operators have partnered with Starlink, a number that continues to grow, solidifying the foundation for Starlink to provide IoT services. To achieve the goal of minimal terminal-side modifications, these operators are expected to adhere to the 3GPP technical route for their satellite IoT services.

Recently, market research firm IoT Analytics released a report on satellite IoT, indicating that as of the end of June 2025, over 100 vendors are active in the satellite IoT market, making it increasingly fragmented. Approximately two-thirds of satellite IoT operators utilize low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Satellite IoT remains a relatively niche area; although its average revenue per user (ARPU) is high, about 15 times that of cellular IoT, its connection scale is limited. Currently, satellite IoT connections account for only 0.04% of global IoT connections and 0.17% of global cellular IoT connections. Therefore, promoting scaled connections and lowering technical barriers are crucial paths to enhancing the satellite IoT ecosystem, and the choice of technical route is particularly important.

IoT Analytics research found that the refinement of the 3GPP NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) standard is lowering market entry barriers for new satellite IoT operators, making satellite services more affordable and opening new market opportunities for traditional operators. Currently, emerging satellite communication operators are adopting the 3GPP NTN standard, and even traditional satellite operators like Iridium are choosing 3GPP NTN to provide services.

Satellite connectivity is a vital feature in the transition from 5G to 6G, with 3GPP designating NTN as a critical area for each generation of standard evolution to achieve the vision of integrated space-terrestrial communication services. Adopting 3GPP technology for satellite communication services allows leveraging the large ecosystem of standardized products and components in the cellular communication field, providing technology providers with opportunities for rapid expansion and compatibility across devices. Simultaneously, it enables effective utilization of the cellular communication industry chain and user base to quickly expand the user base of space-based networks, thereby reducing the costs of integrated space-terrestrial network construction, maintenance, and promotion. The 3GPP camp has promoted the popularization of global mobile communication for many years, possessing a broad "mass base" that other communication technology camps cannot match. Therefore, compared to other technology camps, 3GPP satellite communication technology appears to be more commercially competitive.

As a representative enterprise in the satellite communication field, Starlink's entry into IoT services and its adoption of the 3GPP technical route can be seen as a strong guiding force. Driven by key players, the 3GPP standard may accelerate its dominance as the leading standard for direct-to-satellite communication for terrestrial terminals.