First standards-based commercial D2D service to activate millions of devices across 5 continents, now launching in Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand
Skylo, a leading provider of seamless direct-to-device satellite connectivity, has successfully secured $30 million in an oversubscribed funding round led by NGP Capital. The Westly Group also participated, along with existing investors Intel Capital, BMW i Ventures, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Next47, and others. This investment will support Skylo’s expansion into Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and additional regions, following the recent launch of its services on major Tier-1 smartphones and partner carriers.
As the world’s largest standards-based direct-to-device network, Skylo enables smartphones, vehicles, and IoT devices to maintain satellite connectivity when cellular networks are unavailable. Unlike other satellite service providers, Skylo has developed an integrated experience from the ground up, collaborating with a broad ecosystem of partners—including chipset manufacturers, device makers, certification labs, and SIM providers. This approach allows Skylo to offer its services to leading mobile network operators and MVNOs worldwide, complementing their terrestrial networks.
In partnership with Viasat, Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, Skylo has expanded its commercial service to cover the entire U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories, as well as regions in Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. This expansion addresses the challenge that, despite advancements in mobile networks, 85% of the planet still lacks reliable cellular coverage. Skylo’s network natively integrates with existing chipsets, enabling devices to seamlessly switch from cellular to satellite when coverage is lost. By connecting standard cellular devices to satellites instead of cell towers, Skylo provides coverage in remote areas lacking traditional infrastructure. Users connect their devices as they would to a regular cellular network, with signals relayed through satellites to ensure connectivity anywhere.
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Skylo’s innovative non-terrestrial network has already facilitated millions of messages worldwide, delivering critical connectivity across five continents for both IoT and consumer devices. In the past six months, Skylo-enabled smartphones have been instrumental during natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires in the United States, enabling users to request assistance when terrestrial networks were unavailable. Skylo will showcase its SOS over satellite, SMS over satellite, and AI chat over satellite capabilities at MWC Barcelona 2025, held in the GSMA Pavilion in Hall 4, Stand 4F30, from March 3 to 6, 2025.
This funding round and expansion come at a time when the direct-to-device satellite connectivity market is rapidly evolving. Industry leaders like Vodafone have recently achieved milestones such as the world’s first satellite-enabled video call on a standard smartphone, aiming to eliminate mobile coverage gaps and achieve universal connectivity. Similarly, companies like AST SpaceMobile are competing to provide global 5G-quality voice, data, and video coverage through satellite technology. Skylo’s approach of utilizing existing satellite infrastructure and integrating with current devices positions it uniquely in this competitive landscape, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution to global connectivity challenges.