Viasat Wins Connected Car Innovation Award
The company earned the 7th annual AutoTech Breakthrough Award for integrating satellite voice calling into vehicles.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Automotive — General
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Viasat received the Connected Car Innovation of the Year award for successfully integrating satellite voice connectivity into a BMW iX3 platform. This advancement allows for reliable bidirectional telemetry in areas lacking traditional cellular coverage.
Why it matters
The technology provides a failsafe communication link in rural or offshore environments, ensuring vehicle diagnostics and impact detection remain operational. By using standard antennas, it lowers integration barriers for automakers.
The system utilizes 3GPP Release 17 Narrowband IoT standards alongside geostationary L-band satellite networks. It functions using commercial off-the-shelf chipsets rather than requiring specialized high-gain satellite antennas.
The players
Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that focuses on providing satellite-based connectivity solutions for consumers, businesses, and government agencies.
BMW
BMW is a prominent German multinational manufacturer known for producing luxury vehicles, motorcycles, and performance-oriented engines.
The details
Viasat utilized specialized voice codecs to transmit audio over narrow bandwidth satellite channels for the demonstration. The integration supports essential vehicle services, including fleet diagnostics and real-time impact detection.
Timeline
Viasat performed live field trials and technology demonstrations during 2026.
The Connected Car Innovation of the Year award was presented on October 15, 2026.
Roadmap
The automotive industry is shifting toward satellite-integrated telematics to ensure continuous vehicle connectivity beyond the reach of terrestrial cell towers. This development marks a transition where automakers prioritize resilient, universal data links that compete with existing terrestrial network dependence.
Drivers operating in remote or offshore regions could see increased vehicle safety due to more consistent emergency communication and diagnostic reporting. Owners of future vehicle models may benefit from improved reliability for connected safety services that previously relied solely on cellular signal availability.
The takeaway
Satellite connectivity is becoming a viable standard for vehicular telematics by utilizing existing commercial chipsets. This advancement suggests a future where high-gain antennas are no longer needed to maintain a vehicle link in remote locations.
Further reading
Learn more about industry trends in Automotive — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Satnews.
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