Dhruva Space partners with Kinéis to provide Space-based IoT connectivity in India

Hyderabad-based full-stack space engineering solutions provider Dhruva Space has announced a strategic partnership with France-based satellite operator and global IoT connectivity provider Kinéis.

The collaboration aims to introduce Kinéis IoT connectivity in India and launch a Kinéis IoT payload on the Dhruva Space P-30 satellite.

“Our existing partnership with Kinéis has been built on a foundation of mutual confidence and trust. By enhancing this collaboration, we are poised to deliver innovative IoT services that will drive digital transformation and open new opportunities for businesses and communities throughout the country," said Sanjay Nekkanti, Chief Executive Officer of Dhruva Space.

Providing IoT Services

According to the company's statement, The partnership is focused on Dhruva Space providing Kinéis IoT services in India while developing new and innovative applications supported by Kinéis’ 25-satellite constellation. 

The collaboration also includes a joint satellite mission to augment the space segment capacity for India.

The partnership will allow Kinéis and Dhruva Space to offer cost-effective, advanced, and reliable IoT solutions. These solutions will foster innovation and the development of new applications and services tailored to the Indian market, driving technological advancement. 

"Together, Kinéis and Dhruva Space are committed to passing on the benefits of Space-Tech advancements for novel use-case development across India," Nekkanti added.

Dhruva Space's first hosted payload mission

Dhruva Space has established a strong track record in low data rate satellite communications with its P-DoT CubeSat platform and hybrid connectivity end-user terminal Bolt through the technology demonstration Thybolt mission in 2022.

Later this year, the spacetech startup is set to launch its first Hosted Payload mission utilizing its P-30 nanosatellite platform, a modular and scalable satellite bus offering both hosted and dedicated mission capabilities. The platform is scalable for Earth observation constellations, secure communications, and strategic use cases.

What Does Kinéis Do?

Founded in 2018, Kinéis is a satellite operator and global connectivity provider.

It inherited 40 years of expertise in the Argos system, founded by CNES (French Space Agency) and historically operated by CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites). Kinéis’ mission is to develop reliable technology that provides easy access to useful satellite data.

The Kinéis IoT constellation aims to connect any object anywhere in the world, including remote areas, and transmit useful low data to users in near real-time.

Kinéis operates in areas that represent major challenges for mankind and its environment, including the prevention of natural risks (such as detection of forest fires, floods, and drought), agriculture, animal traceability, monitoring of infrastructures and energy networks, transport and logistics, and commercial and scientific maritime activities.

Future plans for India

Dhruva Space said that it will provide these services in India, with significant efforts placed on experimentation and development of new applications enabled by the Kinéis satellite network. 

The full-scale global commercial service availability of Kinéis IoT will commence following the complete deployment of Kinéis' constellation in early 2025. This will be supported by the development and large-scale manufacturing of end-user terminals by Dhruva Space for India, the company said.

Alexandre Tisserant, Chief Executive Officer of Kinéis, commented: “This technological and commercial partnership with Dhruva Space is a concrete expression of the relationship of trust established with Kinéis and reflects the joint drive to provide high-performance spatial IoT services for the Indian market."

"The applications of Kinéis connectivity are infinite—spanning environment, agriculture, monitoring of energy networks, and commercial maritime activities. Our commercial services will bring considerable benefits to Indian public and private players," Tisserant added.