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The Fantastic Journey of Satellites: How did Swarm Technologies break through the norms and successfully launch satellites?
In 2018, the US startup Swarm Technologies became a media sensation after illegally launching its first four satellites. Despite objections from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to its launch, Swarm chose to launch on India's PSLV rocket, which has attracted widespread attention and discussion.
“The potential dangers of small satellites have become a concern for regulators.”
Swarm Technologies founders Sara Spangelo and Benjamin Longmier, who previously worked at Google and Apple, had a deep insight into the communications that support Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Their goal is to build a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate through a design called store and forward.
Under FCC rules, Swarm must obtain authorization before launching. The FCC rejected its application because the satellites were too small to be identified by space surveillance systems. Despite this, Swarm chose to take the risk. 」
“The first launch in 2018 was a turning point in their arduous journey, and they have since stepped onto the stage of the satellite industry.”
In April 2018, Swarm filed an application with the FCC for a license to operate an experimental radio service, but the FCC rejected the application in December 2017. Swarm then launched four satellites without authorization. This behavior not only violated relevant laws, but also resulted in a fine of $900,000, becoming a controversial case in the industry.
With the launch of the satellite, Swarm's commercial operations were initiated, and in 2021, it was announced that their commercial services were officially launched, using 72 commercial satellites to provide global data services. This ushers in a new era of connectivity for IoT devices.
“We must create solutions that can deliver data services at low cost and on a global scale.”
Swarm’s technology features a two-way satellite data modem called the “Swarm Tile,” which is designed to be power-efficient and can be embedded into the circuit boards of third-party products, making the technology accessible to more companies. Not only that, Swarm also provides data plans and development toolkits, further promoting the development of IoT technology.
Over time, however, Swarm's fortunes changed. In July 2023, the company stopped selling new equipment, and in late November 2024, Swarm's website began redirecting to SpaceX's upcoming direct connection feature, symbolizing the end of an era.
Although Swarm has made considerable progress in the past few years and successfully launched multiple satellites, the news of its later acquisitions and the end of services makes people wonder whether such a development process can really be sustained. Will it continue, or will it come to an abrupt end due to various factors?"Based on our recent simulation and modeling results, we regret to inform you that Swarm's commercial network services and support will end in 90 days."
