We at TeleGeography are a curious bunch.
So when we hear about an “ocean intelligence platform” employing a fleet of thousands of satellite-connected buoys, you have our attention.
Alas, the internet is teeming with other important news, so we’ll round out our November list of reading recs with cattle-monitoring smart sensors, a pricey USB-C enabled iPhone, the status of the $1.2 trillion U.S. infrastructure bill, multi-orbit satellite service testing results, and the relationship between 5G and climate change.
Sofar nets a $39M round B to grow its ocean-monitoring autonomous buoy network
Sofar Ocean has raised $39 million to improve its armada of smart buoys, which report metrics about ocean currents, temperature, weather, and more through the Iridium satellite network.
The data recorded by these maritime monitors appeals to shipping and supply chain management companies as well as scientists.
According to Sofar CEO Tim Janssen, “We’ve already got all five oceans covered, but now it’s time to kick it into even higher gear to improve the density of this distributed platform for the most powerful sensing capability possible.”
AT&T is powering a unique IoT system: Cows connected with smart sensors
If you enjoyed the first article, this should also a-moo-se you.
AT&T's 5G network is now powering a type of smaXtec sensor, which—after being swallowed by a dairy cow—monitors the animal's health via its stomach.
Farmers hope to use this data to catch potential illnesses early, preventing the use of antibiotics and the spread of diseases among their herds.
The First iPhone with USB-C Sold for Over $86,000 on eBay
If you’re an iPhone user in an Android household, you might wish you could borrow another person’s phone charger every once in a while. Well, for the low, low price of $86K—roughly the cost of a 2022 BMW 8 Series—you could finally have it all.
After personally modifying an iPhone to use a USB-C port, engineering student Ken Pillonel took to the internet to sell the Frankenstein-like device. Minutes before the auction ended, the winning bid settled at $86,001—just one dollar higher than the former highest bid.
Broadband gets $65 billion in U.S. infrastructure bill – here’s what happens next
After months of deliberation, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to pass a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which includes $65 billion allotted for broadband.
The lofty broadband funds will be distributed across various programs but the largest sum—$42.45 billion—will go to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Check out the article above for more on BEAD and what should unfold now that the bill has passed.
Isotropic, SES take multi-orbit satellite services to the test
Isotropic Systems has reported positive field test results for its multi-orbit satellite service after successfully linking a geosynchronous satellite with a medium-Earth orbit satellite owned by Luxembourg-based SES.
In the words of Isotropic founder and CEO John Finney: "The reality is that this technology means you can have as many connections as you want from the terminal to as many satellites you can see in the sky."
Isotropic's terminal has also been engineered to integrate 3G, 4G, and 5G. Read on for a more in-depth analysis of this new development.
How 5G Can Help Combat Climate Change
According to a study commissioned by Swedish equipment vendor Ericsson, 5G connectivity could be fundamental to Europe achieving future climate targets.
TeleGeography Research Analyst Pete Bell dives into the Connectivity and Climate Change report, which asserts that using 5G technology across four high-emitting sectors—power, transport, manufacturing, and buildings—could create annual emissions savings of up to 170 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e).
That would equate to taking one out of every seven cars—more than 35 million vehicles in total—off the EU’s roads.
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