HELSINKI — Chinese startup Bluelink Satcom has raised early-stage funding to build a satellite network capable of detecting Bluetooth signals from space.
Bluelink Satcom announced an angel+ funding round March 25 worth tens of millions of yuan, or roughly $3 million to $13 million. The round was led by LinGe Ventures with participation from Hongfu Capital.
The funds raised will be used to build China’s first Bluetooth satellite, including launch and operation, as well as team expansion, the company said in a statement.
The company, full name Beijing Lanying Xingtong Technology Co., Ltd, says its technology can provide a cost-effective solution for low-speed, wide-area Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, though this will be one-way only, with satellites unable to connect to devices.
The company aims to repurpose Bluetooth wireless technology, usually used to connect devices across a range of meters, to send data to satellites in orbit, hundreds of kilometers above the Earth. Bluelink Satcom satellites will be equipped with a payload with ultra-high sensitivity to faint Bluetooth signals sent through the atmosphere.
Utilizing these low-power signals greatly reduces energy and infrastructure requirements for connectivity and monitoring, which could help expand IoT coverage. Satellites can cover areas without networks, power, or communication infrastructure, enabling effective data collection and monitoring in more remote regions. The system could be most useful for Bluetooth-only devices such as sensors and tags.
The company believes initial use cases of Bluetooth satellites will focus on meteorological emergencies, traffic, bridges and building monitoring, using the low cost and wide coverage of satellites to replace manual monitoring.
The company says no hardware modification is needed for a device to connect to a satellite, instead only requiring an update to Bluetooth software. Upgrades can be done via over-the-air firmware updates.
Bluelink Satcom says…
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