Terrestar unveils Canadian-controlled hybrid IoT service built on open standards

Terrestar has introduced a hybrid IoT connectivity offering that merges satellite and terrestrial cellular links under an open-standards architecture, targeting continuity of service in areas where traditional networks fail. By designing the platform to interoperate with international non-terrestrial network specifications from 3GPP, the company aims to enable seamless handover between cellular and satellite paths without locking customers into closed vendor ecosystems. The launch signals a shift in satellite services from bespoke, proprietary stacks toward modular, standards-aligned systems that encourage competitive device and service markets. Terrestar frames this move as strengthening national resilience by keeping key network control, spectrum use, and operations under Canadian jurisdiction. Industry testing included a multi-month field trial in a connectivity-challenged region where the service sustained equipment monitoring and supported condition-based maintenance workflows, reducing unnecessary travel and operational expense for the participant. That practical validation links the technical claim to clear operational benefits for sectors that operate beyond cell coverage, such as resource extraction, logistics corridors, and environmental monitoring. For mobile network operators and device makers, the open approach means easier integration paths and a larger ecosystem of compatible solutions, lowering barriers for direct-to-device satellite capabilities in the future. At the policy level, deploying a domestically controlled standards-based service helps diversify supply and reduces single-source dependencies that can complicate emergency response and economic-security planning. Commercially, the platform positions Terrestar to capture demand from enterprises and public agencies seeking persistent telemetry and safety connectivity across dispersed geographies. Technology-wise, the rollout validates a dual-mode SIM-capable solution that dynamically selects the best available bearer, a necessary step before broader direct-to-smartphone satellite services mature. Risks remain: scale, device availability, roaming arrangements, and the pace of global NTN standard adoption will determine how quickly this architecture displaces entrenched proprietary options. Still, by coupling field validation with a spectrum-anchored, locally operated network, Terrestar has created a tangible pathway for Canada to expand critical connectivity while fostering an interoperable market for satellite-enhanced IoT.