Fibocom says its LE270-EU and LE271-GL LTE Cat.1 bis modules have connected to SpaceX’s Starlink Direct-to-Cell network during field tests in New Zealand. The modules established IP data sessions and transmitted data using standard firmware, without dedicated satellite hardware or satellite-specific firmware modifications.
The demonstration offers a practical example of conventional cellular modules communicating through a satellite network. Fibocom’s results also show that satellite access has distinct performance and power requirements that IoT device makers need to consider alongside the potential to reuse existing hardware designs.
Testing standard LTE modules over satellite
Starlink Direct to Cell uses LTE base-station capabilities on low Earth orbit satellites. The system is intended to let compatible cellular devices connect beyond the reach of terrestrial cellular base stations through participating mobile operators. Fibocom tested its two modules in outdoor, in-vehicle and indoor settings to examine how conditions, including satellite visibility, affected connectivity.
With good visibility of the sky, the LE270-EU recorded approximately 2.2 Mbps downlink throughput, while the LE271-GL reached about 2.0 Mbps. Both modules delivered around 0.3 Mbps uplink throughput. Network registration times ranged from roughly one to 30 seconds. In favorable conditions, ping response rates were 80% to 90%, according to Fibocom.
Results worsened when the satellite view was obstructed. In some indoor tests in a hotel room, downlink throughput dropped to approximately 0.5 Mbps, and ping response rates fell to around 65% to 70%. Some requests also took substantially longer to receive a response. The variation underscores that a module’s ability to connect does not guarantee uniform service across locations or installation types.
Implications for IoT device design
Using standard LTE modules could help manufacturers avoid adding a separate satellite modem to certain device designs. It may also limit the hardware changes needed to extend an existing product’s connectivity beyond terrestrial coverage. But the tests do not establish universal compatibility: device eligibility, operator arrangements and performance in other networks and environments remain relevant to any deployment decision.
The reported results may be pertinent to asset tracking and other applications where equipment moves between covered and remote areas. For a tracker inside a vehicle, container or building, signal conditions may differ from those for a device operating outdoors with a clear view of the sky. In applications that send small, intermittent payloads, dependable delivery may matter more than peak data rates.
Fibocom also identified a power cost associated with satellite transmission. Uploading the same file over the satellite connection consumed approximately 1.5 to 1.8 times as much energy as over terrestrial cellular connectivity, the company reported. Longer transmission times, higher transmission currents and retransmissions contributed to the increase.
The finding has consequences for battery-powered equipment, even when a device can use its existing LTE module to reach a satellite network. Fibocom said the LE270 and LE271 families support Power Saving Mode currents as low as 2.5 μA and that low sleep current was maintained during testing. The added energy demand was primarily associated with active satellite communications rather than standby operation.
Performance and power remain design considerations
IoT manufacturers evaluating this kind of connectivity will need to account for both active transmission energy and variable network conditions. Approaches such as sending data less frequently, buffering sensor readings and adapting retries may help manage device behavior, though the tests do not establish a single configuration for all applications.
Fibocom described the work as a technical demonstration, not proof that the modules are ready for every commercial deployment or compatible with all satellite networks. The company said it is continuing to optimize Direct-to-Cell firmware compatibility for the LE270 and LE271 series, with a focus on network registration efficiency and connection resilience.
For IoT developers, the central result is that conventional LTE Cat.1 bis hardware connected to Starlink Direct to Cell in the reported tests without satellite-specific hardware modifications. Turning that capability into reliable field service will still depend on operating conditions, network access and careful management of power and data delivery.
