For IoT applications which require ubiquitous connectivity, even in the most remote areas, satellite may be necessary to fill the coverage gaps. LTE-over-satellite will have a growing role in the IoT, say supporters of this approach, one of which is French chip supplier Sequans. The company has announced a partnership with defense contractor Lockheed Martin to develop LTE-over-satellite solutions, which will allow 4G devices to connect to geostationary satellites where necessary. Sequans has modified its existing 4G IoT chips for the satellite use case, while Lockheed Martin developed the communication specifications, to help the cellular and satellite technologies talk to one another more smoothly. This, claims the partners, enables smooth interaction between the two networks, even before 5G is deployed…