Skylo

For many years, people and industries in remote areas have faced difficult challenges with connectivity, especially in areas where there isn't even coverage by cellular networks. The need for always-on communication, whether focused on the safety of a family, productivity in a job, or personal communication, is leading to innovation in satellite-based connectivity solutions. 

Skylo, under the leadership of Parthsarathi Trivedi (CEO), is leading the charge in satellite-based direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity solutions. The platform provides connectivity to people wherever they may be outside of terrestrial networks with their standard smartphone and IoT devices. By working together with global satellite operators and chipset manufacturers, Skylo helps to bridge the digital divide by providing a way to get suitable satellite coverage at a reasonable cost and without changing to any special hardware. Their services focus on the agriculture, logistics, fisheries, and emergency services industries, and those industries can now communicate and transfer data even in the most remote locations on earth.

Their service runs on compatible chipsets, such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80, that effectively convert standard smartphones into satellite phones. If you are ever in the situation where you can’t connect to your cell network, Skylo enables your smartphone to automatically connect to one of its satellites. In that event, you have access to every service the platform provides: messaging, where you can share your location, and alerts. The best part is that the service doesn’t require the user to do anything to install new apps or change devices, so the experience is frictionless for the user. Additionally, the platform solves challenges in disaster areas, where telecommunication services are down, as it allows first responders not to lose contact with communities when it is most needed. Skylo has an especially interesting offering of satellite messaging services for emergency purposes, bundled into standard telecom services, such as those offered by providers like Verizon. The company makes sure its users can send and receive calls or information, whether they are on wilderness trails, in the ocean, or in a rural zone. Their enterprise services provide real-time data connectivity for remote sensor and vehicle services, such as those marketed to extend safety monitoring and improve operational efficiency, albeit in remote places. Skylo can customize services to suit the needs of all manner of clients, including fleet operators and co-operatives in agriculture.

They have certainly made some remarkable progress in terms of development. In 2025, Skylo boasts over 100 employees globally, headquarters in Mountain View, California and regional offices in Bangalore (India) and Espoo (Finland) places a new focus on bringing their service to every corner of the earth. With business in North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and parts of Asia, Skylo can cover the globe and perfectly realise satellite availability across five continents. These locations also provide capability to tackle engineering support, sales development and partner integration while considering time zones and geography.   

In terms of finance, moreover, Skylo has demonstrated impressive traction with investors. The company completed an oversubscribed round of financing in February 2025, securing $30 million in new funding for a total of over $183 million. Some, but not all of the investors include Intel Capital, BMW i Ventures, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Next47, Innovation Endeavors, and Seraphim Space. (A number of this year’s partner relationships hinge on financial operational capacity as well.) This funding has largely been used for R&D and continued international expansion, as well as partnerships with mobile carriers and device makers. While we do not have exact details regarding profitability, their estimated revenue is $26.6 million per year bumping up revenue per employee at $235,841. Both healthy indices demonstrate a strong financial position and a forthcoming trend. Although, the company is valued at approximately $350 million as of early 2025. Skylo has a custom, tiered pricing model for individual users or enterprise customers. For consumers, they provide affordable pay as you go satellite messaging services through mobile network operator integration—consumers only pay for messaging when they go off-grid. For enterprises—including logistics firms, agricultural cooperatives, and mariners—they offer customized subscription plans that include real-time transmissions and device management solutions. Skylo makes money mostly through B2B business activity, through licensing agreements with telecom operators and integrations with their devices. They are able to monetize through both channels in order to ensure they have predictable cash flow while scaling a presence in both consumer and industrial markets.

Skylo is operating within a competitive space that also consists of Lynk Global, AST SpaceMobile, Starlink, and Iridium. All competitors provide satellite connectivity, but differentiates through its lightweight, device-native solution that requires no external hardware, dishes, or terminals. Their great strength is converting pre-embedded mobile enabled smartphones into lifelines by executing a seamless back-end integration model.In the future, they have plans for additional expansion in Africa and Southeast Asia, where large rural populations don't have access to cellular coverage. In addition, the team has been investigating interoperability with wearables and the automotive ecosystem in pursuit of a world where global connectivity is truly ubiquitous. These actions are part of Skylo's larger goal to make satellite communications mainstream and therefore invisible, just like Wi-Fi.

As CEO Parthsarathi Trivedi stated, “Skylo is here to ensure that no one—no matter where they are—is ever disconnected again.” With an emphasis on interoperability, economic feasibility, and reliability, Skylo is in a position to shake up how the world thinks about staying connected. As the company scales, the traditional view of mobile coverage has to change—it is a whole new world of connectedness that will be defined by vast expanses of sky—not a finite number of cell towers. With an increasing customer base, valuable partnerships, and revolutionary technology, Skylo is on a trajectory that indicates the only way is up; their potential for global communication is just beginning.

Click here to access Skylo's website.