Protect Your Electrical Infrastructure—Everywhere
Kinéis, a French satellite IoT connectivity provider, leverages their nanosatellite constellation to enable smart pylon monitoring solutions for electrical grid infrastructure. By providing global, reliable connectivity for remote electricity pylons, Kinéis addresses specific challenges in power grid management, safety, and regulatory compliance through satellite IoT pylon monitoring technology.
Kinéis operates a constellation of nanosatellites providing global coverage for IoT devices, offering space-based connectivity solutions that enable continuous monitoring and data collection from remote locations worldwide through satellite IoT pylon monitoring systems. The company’s constellation of 25 nanosatellites became operational in 2024, providing complete global Earth coverage with no connectivity gaps. The system enables data transmission from IoT devices every 15 minutes maximum, using compact 19-byte messages that are optimized for ultra-low power consumption. This efficient design allows the service to be offered at less than $10 per month per device. As an authorized ST Partner, Kinéis works closely with STM32WL microcontrollers to ensure seamless integration with existing IoT infrastructure.
The Challenge: Electricity Pylon Monitoring
Industry Pain Points
Electricity transmission and distribution companies face significant challenges with pylon infrastructure management. Many pylons are located in remote, inaccessible areas where traditional cellular or terrestrial connectivity is unavailable or unreliable, making continuous monitoring extremely difficult. The protection of electricity pylons is essential for regulatory compliance, safety and performance, yet companies struggle to maintain comprehensive oversight of their distributed infrastructure.
Grid operators need real-time visibility into pylon conditions to prevent outages and ensure system reliability, while regulatory authorities require detailed records of infrastructure health and performance. Additionally, predictive maintenance strategies depend on continuous data collection to identify potential issues before they cause failures, creating a complex web of monitoring requirements that traditional systems struggle to address effectively.
Traditional Monitoring Limitations
Conventional pylon monitoring systems face several constraints:
- Limited cellular coverage in remote areas
- High power consumption requiring frequent battery replacements
- Weather-dependent terrestrial communication links
- High infrastructure costs for deploying communication networks
- Intermittent connectivity affecting data reliability
The Kinéis Satellite IoT Solution
Technology Architecture
Kinéis provides a comprehensive satellite IoT solution specifically designed for electricity pylon monitoring through a multi-layered approach. The satellite IoT pylon monitoring hardware foundation consists of ultra-low power IoT sensors and monitoring devices paired with STM32WL-based communication modules, all housed in rugged enclosures designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions. Solar power systems ensure energy independence, eliminating the need for frequent battery replacements or grid connections.
The satellite communication layer enables IoT devices installed on electricity pylons to transmit information to the nearest nanosatellites every 15 minutes maximum. This system provides two-way communication capability for both data collection and command transmission, with global coverage that ensures connectivity regardless of pylon location. The operations centre processes incoming data continuously, operating 24 hours a day throughout the year with real-time data processing and analysis capabilities that integrate seamlessly with existing grid management systems.
Monitoring Capabilities
- Monitoring of pylon condition over entire life cycle, including performance and stress levels
- Tilt and vibration detection
- Guy-wire tension monitoring
- Foundation integrity assessment
- Weather conditions monitoring
- Temperature and humidity tracking
- Wind speed and direction measurement
- Ice loading detection
- Power line current and voltage monitoring
- Insulator performance assessment
- Corona discharge detection
- Ground fault monitoring
- Unauthorized access detection
- Vandalism and theft prevention
- Emergency alert systems
Transform Pylon Monitoring with Satellite IoT
The smart pylon implementation demonstrates how satellite IoT technology can transform traditional infrastructure monitoring, enabling utilities to improve safety, reduce costs, and enhance grid reliability. As the energy sector continues to modernize and expand into remote areas, Kinéis’ solution provides a scalable foundation for next-generation grid management.