Fibocom reaches 2.2 Mbps in Starlink Direct to Cell New Zealand test

By Olivia Hart

In a November 9 field report, Fibocom said its LE270-EU module reached about 2.2 megabits per second on SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell network during live testing in New Zealand. The China-based maker said both the LE270-EU and LE271-GL registered, established internet protocol data sessions and transmitted data without satellite-specific hardware changes.

The tests used standard firmware and covered outdoor, in-vehicle and indoor settings, according to Fibocom’s November 9 field report. Fibocom said the modules extended a standard cellular design toward satellite coverage for Asia-Pacific internet-of-things deployments.

What did the New Zealand tests show?

Under open-sky outdoor and in-vehicle conditions, Fibocom reported about 2.2 Mbps downlink for the LE270-EU and 2.0 Mbps for the LE271-GL. Both delivered roughly 0.3 Mbps uplink, while registration took one to 30 seconds and ping response rates ran from 80% to 90%.

The indoor test used a hotel room with an obstructed view of the sky. Fibocom reported downlink falling to about 0.5 Mbps in some scenarios, ping response rates of 65% to 70%, and slower completion for some requests. That indoor rate was roughly one-quarter of the reported 2.2 Mbps open-sky benchmark.

The results came from Fibocom’s own field testing, and no independent auditor checked them. The company did not disclose the mobile operator, precise locations, sample size, test duration, equipment configuration beyond the two modules, or whether it controlled network conditions. The result supports low- to medium-rate outdoor connectivity, not a blanket performance guarantee.

How much extra power did the satellite link require?

Fibocom said uploading the same file over the satellite link consumed about 1.5 to 1.8 times as much energy as a terrestrial cellular connection. The company attributed the increase to longer transmission times, higher transmit current and retransmissions, while reporting sleep-mode current of 2.5 microamperes.

The LE270 and LE271 series measure 17.7 by 15.8 by 2.4 millimeters and target low- to medium-rate connectivity. Fibocom positions them for asset trackers, agricultural sensors and environmental monitors that send small data packets from areas with limited ground coverage.

The report does not disclose active-mode consumption, an absolute energy total or a battery-life estimate. For the same upload, satellite connectivity carried a 50% to 80% energy premium despite the low-power sleep mode.

What does the test prove about commercial use?

Fibocom’s report describes Starlink Direct to Cell as placing LTE base-station functions on low Earth orbit satellites and working with mobile network operators to connect compatible devices. The company said usefulness depends on operator partnerships, spectrum, network access rules and local service availability. A New Zealand result therefore does not establish service availability elsewhere in the region.

Fibocom cautioned that the New Zealand trial did not by itself indicate commercial certification or general availability for devices using the modules. The result therefore does not remove the commercial conditions that the report identifies, including operator and regulatory approvals. It also provides no timetable for the planned firmware improvements or for broader module availability.

Earlier, Fibocom announced in October that the LE270-KR had received Korean certification and KT network approval for terrestrial deployments, before the New Zealand trial added a satellite test to the LE270 family. Its announcement said: “KES 2026 | Fibocom LE270-KR Secures KC Certification and KT Network Approval, Supporting Smart Metering and Other IoT Deployments.”

The October approval covers terrestrial deployments and does not establish approval for the satellite-tested variants. Fibocom gave no timetable for certification or broader availability of the satellite-tested modules.

Fibocom said it is continuing to optimize firmware compatibility for the LE270 and LE271 series, focusing on faster network registration and more resilient connections. For Asia-Pacific IoT deployments, independent validation, operator agreements, spectrum access and local approvals will determine whether the field result becomes commercially usable.