Skylo Technologies secured funding to expand its direct-to-device satellite connectivity, enabling seamless global communication for smartphones, vehicles, and IoT devices, especially in regions with little to no cellular coverage.
In a major boost to global satellite connectivity, Skylo Technologies has secured $30M in an oversubscribed funding round led by NGP Capital. The Mountain View, California-based company is a pioneer in direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service, enabling seamless connectivity for smartphones, vehicles, and IoT devices, particularly in regions with little to no cellular coverage.
Exploring remote mountain ranges or navigating open waters can often mean being out of traditional cell coverage. Skylo’s groundbreaking technology enables devices to switch seamlessly from cellular networks to satellite, ensuring uninterrupted communication anywhere in the world. This has a profound impact on industries like maritime, agriculture, logistics, and emergency response, where consistent communication is crucial for efficiency and safety.
Redefining global satellite connectivity
Skylo’s approach to satellite connectivity is unique. Unlike conventional satellite service providers, Skylo has built an integrated, standards-based ecosystem that works with existing chipset makers, device manufacturers, and SIM providers. This allows standard cellular devices to connect directly to satellites, eliminating the need for specialised hardware while providing coverage in remote areas where traditional cell networks are absent. Skylo’s technology ensures that consumers and enterprises alike can maintain reliable connectivity, whether they are in a city or in a remote location with no cell towers in sight.
“Skylo’s mission is to drive extreme accessibility of connectivity for cellular devices worldwide,” said Parthsarathi Trivedi, CEO and co-founder of Skylo. “Skylo is synonymous with anywhere connectivity for all, and this new funding allows us to enhance our market reach even farther and faster.”
Skylo’s non-terrestrial network (NTN) has facilitated millions of messages globally and proven especially effective in disaster response. Devices connected via satellite are managed by Skylo’s commercial NTN vRAN, which includes a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core. With its advanced ‘standards-plus’ technology stack, Skylo is establishing itself as a category leader in the expanding direct-to-device (D2D) satellite market.
Strategic global expansion for satellite connectivity innovation
With the latest funding, Skylo is expanding its commercial service footprint to Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, extending its presence across five continents. This complements its existing coverage across the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories. Skylo has partnered with Viasat, Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, to facilitate this expansion.
Skylo’s expanded network is expected to bring significant benefits to remote workers, adventurers, and industries operating in rugged environments. In the mining sector, for example, reliable satellite connectivity allows for improved safety monitoring and operational efficiency. Similarly, in the maritime industry, constant connectivity is essential for navigation, real-time weather updates, and emergency coordination.
“Skylo stands apart as the category leader in the rapidly emerging direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity space,” said Debjit Mukerji, Partner at NGP Capital. “It is already operating one of the world’s first commercial solutions at a significant scale, with millions of consumers connected to the Skylo network. What has unlocked Skylo’s incredible growth is the depth of its ‘standards-plus’ technology stack that democratises access to ubiquitous mobile connectivity. We are excited to partner with Parth and his team as their global commercialisation continues to inflect.”
The vision behind Skylo
Skylo was co-founded by Parthsarathi Trivedi with the vision of addressing the global connectivity gap. The company’s technology has already facilitated millions of messages worldwide and has played a critical role in emergency response situations. Over the past six months, Skylo-enabled smartphones have been crucial during natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires in the United States, allowing users to request emergency assistance when terrestrial networks failed.
Beyond emergency situations, Skylo’s service is also making a difference in industries that rely on real-time data transmission. In agriculture, for example, IoT-enabled devices connected via Skylo’s satellite service help farmers monitor soil conditions, track machinery, and optimise irrigation systems—even in areas far from cell towers.
What’s next for Skylo?
Skylo is gearing up to showcase its latest innovations at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2025, where it will demonstrate SOS over satellite, SMS over satellite, and AI chat over satellite at the GSMA Pavilion in Hall 4, Stand 4F30 from March 3 – 6, 2025.
With its continued expansion and strong financial backing, Skylo is set to redefine mobile connectivity, ensuring that no matter where people are in the world, they can stay connected when they need it most. The company’s next steps include expanding partnerships with additional mobile network operators and integrating with more smartphone brands to make satellite connectivity a seamless, everyday experience for users worldwide.
As demand for always-on connectivity continues to grow, Skylo’s mission remains clear: to bridge the global coverage gap and empower people and industries with uninterrupted communication, regardless of location.
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