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DEKRA enables Skylo NTN Connectivity for Livestock with the first satellite device from Digitanimal.

Mar 09, 2026
Rural digitalization takes a leap forward thanks to the collaboration between DEKRA , a leading company in Testing Inspection and Certification, the Spanish company, Digitanimal , and the leading non-terrestrial network operator, Skylo . DEKRA’s laboratory in Málaga served as an accredited test house in the certification process of an innovative livestock monitoring device that ensures connectivity even in the most remote areas.
The Digitalanimal tracker, integrated into a livestock collar, delivers real-time positioning that helps farmers remotely monitor their animals with far greater accuracy. Digitanimal utilizes the Deutsche Telekom Connectivity Platform to ensure seamless visibility for both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. When mobile network coverage drops the device automatically switches to non-terrestrial networks (NTN), leveraging Skylo’s 3GPP compliant NTN network, ensuring livestock stay connected and visible with no dead zones or disruptions.
This seamless network handover makes the solution particularly valuable for extensive livestock farming, where animals graze across large areas and in hard-to-reach environments such as mountainous terrain or farms spanning hundreds of hectares, as livestock continually moves in and out of terrestrial coverage. Through a mobile application, farmers can easily access herd location data, optimizing travel, reducing fuel consumption, and improving time management.
Continuous monitoring also delivers critical value in sensitive situations. If an animal remains immobile for an extended period, the system can trigger alerts indicating potential incidents, such as the onset of calving, enabling rapid intervention and reducing risks for both mother and offspring.
The Digitanimal device is now among the first livestock-focused solutions within Skylo’s certification program, which currently spans a wide range devices and use cases globally. It also represents one of the first practical NTN applications in productive IoT environment, an expanding ecosystem focused on extending connectivity beyond the limitations of terrestrial networks.
To connect and interact to the Skylo network, devices must undergo a rigorous acceptance program as defined by Skylo . With more than two decades of experience as a recognized laboratory within the international GCF and PTCRB certification schemes, DEKRA conducted TRP/TIS and regulatory tests, requiring state-of-the-art testing capabilities and highly qualified experts.

For NTN operators like Skylo, it is essential that devices connecting to their networks meet adequate radiated performance levels. This helps devices work reliably and ensures network resources are used efficiently and responsibly.

Manuel García, Head of the OTA Laboratory at DEKRA Málaga
The laboratory’s role is particularly critical in a context where connectivity has become a strategic enabler for new digital services. Beyond regulatory compliance, manufacturers must meet the technical requirements of network operators—both terrestrial and increasingly satellite-based—to ensure interoperability and proper device performance.

Non-terrestrial networks mark a turning point for IoT. This project demonstrates how satellite connectivity, integrated with cellular technologies, enables the development of reliable solutions for key sectors such as extensive livestock farming, bringing digitalization to areas where it was previously not possible.

Natividad Caro, Head of Sales for ICT, Telecom and Carrier at DEKRA
The evolution of NTN communications is reshaping the IoT landscape by delivering global coverage using standard cellular technologies, without the need for high-cost specialized hardware. This model, built on complementary agreements between mobile operators, opens the door to new use cases—from asset tracking along maritime and rail routes to connectivity in developing regions and communications continuity during emergency situations.
With this project, DEKRA reinforces its leadership in advanced connectivity and highlights how testing laboratories, working alongside innovators like Skylo, and tech visionary entrepreneurs as Digitanimal are accelerating the adoption of next‑generation solutions in traditional sectors.

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