Hubble Network achieves first-ever Bluetooth connection directly to space

Wild, a founder of another company dealing with the Internet of Things (IoT), was shocked when he first heard of the concept. However, through his experiences with IoT devices, he agrees that they are power-hungry, extremely expensive to operate, and do not offer global connectivity. 

The solution to this problem lies in the low-power Bluetooth connections that Hubble has just demonstrated. “By showcasing that we can send signals directly from Bluetooth chips and receive them in space over 600km away, we have disproved thousands of skeptics who claimed what we’re attempting was impossible,” Haro, CEO at Hubble, said in a press release. 

How does the tech work? 

Hubble is not reinventing Bluetooth technology in any way. Instead, its satellites communicate with off-the-shelf 3.5 mm Bluetooth chips that have only received a software upgrade. The update allows the chips to communicate over long distances using low power, including an orbiting satellite in space. 

The satellite’s phased array antenna, which works like a magnifying glass, can pick up the low-power signals from the chips on the ground. The team also had to figure out Doppler-related problems and frequency mismatches in the communication as data was being exchanged between objects traveling at high speeds, Tech Crunch said in its report.

The company claims to have solved the problem of global connectivity by reducing battery drain by 20x and operating costs by 50x. The company aims to connect a billion devices worldwide and transform various industries with its tech. 

 “Our mission to build the world’s first truly global, cost-effective, and battery-efficient network has taken a significant leap forward with this technological breakthrough,” added Haro. 

The company said it is already working with pilot customers in consumer devices, construction and infrastructure, supply chain and logistics, agriculture, oil and gas, and defense. 

The road ahead

Later this year, Hubble plans to launch a third satellite on another Transporter mission and follow it up with the fourth satellite in the following months to make up its ‘beta’ constellation. By late 2025-early 2026, the startup plans to launch 32 satellites in a single go to complete its production constellation. 

When ready, the constellation will allow a Bluetooth connection to a Hubble satellite at least eight times a day. As the constellation scales, Hubble is keen to engage in services like soil monitoring or even cases that need continuous coverage, like fall monitoring in the elderly. 

“With nearly five billion Bluetooth devices sold annually, our network has the potential to significantly impact numerous fields by making global connectivity accessible, low-power, and affordable,” said Wild in the press release.