Product Code Database
EchoStar Mobile Limited is a satellite communications company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with commercial operations and a data centre in Griesheim, Germany. It is a subsidiary of EchoStar, a provider of satellite communications devices. EchoStar Mobile provides non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity services, with a primary focus on enabling Internet of Things (IoT) applications through LoRa®-based and mobile satellite solutions. Its network is designed to extend coverage beyond the reach of terrestrial communications, supporting industries such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, infrastructure, and utilities and asset tracking throughout Europe.
The agreement to set up Solaris Mobile was reached in 2006 with the company formed in 2008. SES and Eutelsat – both successful European satellite operators, providing TV and other services from geostationary satellites to millions of cable and direct-to-home viewers – invested €130m in the venture. The services to be developed included video, radio, multimedia data, interactive services, and voice communications, with the primary aim of delivering mobile television any time, anywhere. Its headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland.
Solaris Mobile's first commercial contract was with Italian media publishing group Class Editori, to launch a digital radio service in Italy. A hybrid satellite/terrestrial network will initially be deployed in Milan, in October 2011 and extended across the country in 2012. Solaris claims that the network will enable Italians to access dozens of new digital radio channels broadcasting music, news, entertainment and sports, in their original format with continuity of reception across the entire country, and that the digital audio signal will be complemented with new visual media services such as programme information and traffic data.
In January 2014, EchoStar Corporation acquired all shares of Solaris Mobile, and the company was renamed EchoStar Mobile Limited in March 2015. In June 2017, EchoStar launched the EchoStar XXI satellite to provide S-band mobile satellite services (MSS) across Europe, forming the foundation for the company’s later Internet of Things (IoT) and non-terrestrial network (NTN) offerings.
From 2020 onwards, EchoStar Mobile shifted its focus toward NTN connectivity for IoT. The company developed a pan-European LoRa®-enabled IoT network operating in licensed S band through EchoStar XVII, and in 2024 introduced the LoRaWAN® Satellite Relay (EM-SR) to extend coverage to sensors without a direct line-of-sight to satellites. Also in 2024, industry analysts recognised EchoStar Mobile for its role in pioneering NTN IoT connectivity in Europe.
On June 6, 2025, it was reported that EchoStar Corporation was preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suspended EchoStar's ability to plan out strategic decisions for its Boost Mobile subsidiary. In addition, other factors contributing to this decision included missing over $500 million in interest payments and the termination of the Dish Network acquisition by DirecTV.
The company provides mobile satellite services (MSS) as a foundational offering, delivering voice and packet-data connectivity for users operating outside terrestrial mobile coverage. These hybrid satellite and terrestrial network services are designed for commercial wholesalers seeking mission-critical communications, mobile data transfer, and remote monitoring across sectors such as agriculture, maritime, critical infrastructure monitoring and emergency response.
Building on its MSS capabilities, EchoStar Mobile expanded into non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT). Its pan-European LoRa®-enabled IoT network, introduced in 2022, uses the EchoStar XXI geostationary satellite to enable bi-directional, real-time direct sensor-to-satellite communications in the licensed S-band spectrum. The service supports industries including utilities, transportation, railway, logistics and agritech, providing coverage in remote and mobile environments where terrestrial networks are unavailable.
The company also offers the LoRaWAN® Satellite Relay (EM-SR), a compact plug-and-play device that enables IoT sensors without a direct line-of-sight to satellites, such as those located indoors, in basements, or in obstructed areas, to connect via a local relay node.
EchoStar Mobile provides the following LoRa®-enabled satellite IoT devices:
These satellite IoT devices support bi-directional, real-time satellite connectivity with low power requirements, for small, battery-powered IoT devices operating in remote or mobile environments.
EchoStar Mobile also enables two-way hybrid connectivity by collaborating with The LoRa Alliance ecosystem partners, such as Actility, enabling dual-transport, generic LoRaWAN nodes to operate seamlessly over terrestrial or satellite links.
In May 2009, the European Commission selected two operators, Inmarsat Ventures and Solaris Mobile, giving these operators "the right to use the specific radio frequencies identified in the Commission's decision and the right to operate their respective mobile satellite systems". EU Member States now have to ensure that the two operators have the right to use the specific radio frequencies identified in the commission's decision and the right to operate their respective mobile satellite systems for 18 years from the selection decision. The operators are compelled to start operations within 24 months from the selection decision. Inmarsat and Solaris win EU spectrum rights Reuters (May 14, 2009). Retrieved July 27, 2009 Pan-European numbers and services. European Commission Information Society website. Retrieved July 27, 2009
Following the acquisition of Solaris Mobile by EchoStar in 2014, EchoStar Mobile continues to operate under this authorisation, enabling it to provide S-band satellite IoT services across Europe.
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