Hubble Network Achieves First Bluetooth Connection with Satellite

Hubble Network has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by establishing a Bluetooth connection directly to a satellite, marking a significant technological validation for the company. This achievement has the potential to revolutionize connectivity by paving the way for millions more devices to be connected anywhere in the world.The Seattle-based startup successfully launched its first two satellites into orbit as part of SpaceX's Transporter-10 ride-share mission in March.

Since then, the company has confirmed receiving signals from the onboard 3.5mm Bluetooth chips from distances exceeding 600 kilometers away.This breakthrough demonstrates the feasibility of establishing Bluetooth connections with satellites, expanding the possibilities for global connectivity and enabling innovative solutions for various industries and applications. Hubble Network's accomplishment heralds a new era of satellite-enabled connectivity, with far-reaching implications for communication, technology, and beyond.The potential applications for space-enabled Bluetooth devices are virtually limitless.

Hubble Network highlights several markets where its technology can make a significant impact, including logistics, cattle tracking, smart collars for pets, GPS watches for kids, car inventory management, construction site monitoring, and soil temperature monitoring.According to the startup, industries that require sporadic network coverage, such as remote asset monitoring in the oil and gas sector, represent low-hanging fruit for their technology. As the satellite constellation expands, Hubble aims to address sectors that may require more frequent updates, such as soil monitoring, as well as continuous coverage use cases like fall monitoring for the elderly.

Once operational, customers will be able to seamlessly integrate their device chipsets with Hubble's network by implementing a piece of firmware. This streamlined integration process simplifies the adoption of space-enabled Bluetooth technology, making it accessible to a wide range of industries and applications.Hubble was established in 2021 by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs: Alex Haro, co-founder of Life360; Ben Wild, founder of Iotera (which was acquired by Ring); and aerospace engineer John Kim. The idea of connecting a Bluetooth chip to a satellite initially seemed incredulous to Haro, especially considering the challenges consumer electronics face in establishing connections with nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices.

However, the demand for such technology is undeniable. Existing IoT devices are plagued by issues such as high power consumption, expensive operational costs, and limited global connectivity. These shortcomings hinder many industries from fully leveraging IoT for their businesses.To address these challenges, Hubble developed innovative software that enables off-the-shelf Bluetooth chips to communicate over long ranges with minimal power consumption. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize the IoT landscape by offering reliable connectivity solutions to industries worldwide.

Hubble's promising vision and innovative approach attracted significant attention, leading the company to join Y Combinator's Winter 2022 cohort and secure a $20 million Series A funding round in March of the same year. This demonstrates the industry's confidence in Hubble's ability to deliver game-changing solutions to the IoT market.In addition to its groundbreaking software innovations, Hubble has made significant strides on the space side by patenting a phased array antenna designed to launch on small satellites. These antennas function similarly to magnifying glasses, facilitating communication between off-the-shelf Bluetooth chips and Hubble satellites.

To ensure seamless communication, the team had to address Doppler-related challenges. Doppler effects, caused by frequency mismatches between fast-moving objects exchanging data via radio waves, can hinder effective communication. Hubble's solution to these challenges underscores its commitment to overcoming technical barriers and delivering robust connectivity solutions in the satellite communication space.Hubble is gearing up for further expansion in its satellite network. The company aims to launch a third satellite as part of SpaceX's Transporter-11 mission this summer, followed by a fourth satellite on Transporter-13. These four satellites will form what Hubble's co-founder Alex Haro referred to as the "beta constellation." Pilot customers are already beginning to activate their integrations with these satellites.

Looking ahead, Hubble plans to deploy an additional 32 satellites simultaneously in the fourth quarter of 2025 or the beginning of 2026, although the launch provider has yet to be selected. This expanded constellation, comprising a total of 36 satellites, will mark Hubble's first "production constellation." These satellites will enable connectivity with a Hubble satellite for approximately 2-3 hours per day from anywhere in the world, representing a significant advancement in global connectivity capabilities.