The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a petition from French satellite company Kineis to offer IoT satellite services in the US market via a proposed constellation of 25 small Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, to provide connectivity for IoT devices as well as enhancements to maritime domain awareness through the monitoring of maritime communication. The upcoming constellation of nanosatellites complements the current system operated by Kineis, active worldwide and in the US for decades; Kineis was established in 2018 and inherited the Argos System, which itself started in 1978 as a French-American cooperation.
Kineis petitioned the FCC for access to the US market using frequencies for non-voice, non-geostationary (NVNG) mobile-satellite service (MSS) and earth exploration satellite service (EESS) through a constellation of IoT LEO satellites to be authorised by France, with an expected launch date in 2023. The US regulator has granted Kineis market access in the 399.9MHz-400.05MHz and 401MHz-403MHz uplink bands, and the 400.15MHz-401MHz downlink band, subject to certain conditions.