Sateliot pressed the benefits of satellite connectivity for agriculture in a test with Brazilian innovation centre CPQD which it stated showcased the advantages of non-terrestrial IoT.

Standard NB-IoT devices were connected in a remote area out-with the reach of land-based mobile networks as part of a Sateliot initiative to boost use of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in Brazil.

The company explained the “performance and commercial viability” of satellite-enabled IoT was verified, proving the “feasibility of seamless roaming” between land- and space-based networks.

Sateliot and CPQD put the technology to work tracking cattle.

The Spanish company’s Conecte o Brasil LEO NTN push involves device validation and interoperability testing. The initiative is intended to help Sateliot unlock a nation it stated is “one of the largest untapped IoT markets in the world”.

Sateliot highlighted large portions of Brazil are still not in range of mobile networks, potentially hampering the nation’s ability to capitalise on growth in cellular IoT services.

Elitelma Souza, CPQD solution manager for Automation, IoT and Hybrid Computing, said extending the “reach of IoT” services could “enable new operating models for various sectors of the economy”.

Sateliot CCO Gianluca Redolfi highlighted the test was the company’s first “commercial demonstration in Brazil”, making it “a crucial milestone” in its push there and beyond.

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The European Union (EU) signed a digital partnership with Brazil, strengthening ties on shared technology priorities, including data governance, AI, digital infrastructure, connectivity and online platforms.

The EU’s Digital Partnerships initiative is described by the body as a “core instrument” of its external digital policy, enabling cooperation with like-minded countries on shared priorities.

The agreement was signed in Brazil by Henna Virkkunen, EVP at the European Commission and Brazil’s Secretary for Technology, Alex Giacomelli da Silva.

According to comments cited by Reuters, Virkkunen said the bloc’s push to secure more digital cooperation deals is centred on a desire to reduce reliance on US technology.

“Brazil is a country which shares very much the same value[s] as the EU. So Brazil is committed to open markets, to secure technologies, also to a rules-based order.”

She added the EU is looking to build partnerships because it cannot stay competitive alone, while working to reduce dependence on other nations for services including chip manufacturing and cloud.

Brazil becomes the fifth country to partner with the EU on digital initiatives, joining Canada, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

Data exchange
Through the partnership. The EU and Brazil pledged to step-up joint efforts to promote resilient global supply chains, contributing to an inclusive, rules-based system of global digital governance.

It builds on an agreement struck in January to collaborate on data sharing after finding their protection levels were similar. This agreement allowed businesses, public authorities and researchers to freely exchange data between Brazil and the EU without additional requirements.

The Digital Partnership will now be implemented through dedicated technical workstreams and “high-level exchanges”. A meeting of the Digital Partnership Council will be held in the next 12 months, providing a strategic direction and joint roadmap for the partnership to move forward.

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The government of Taiwan reportedly plans to deepen its diplomatic relationship with Paraguay through a planned $200 million data centre investment, in a rare technology investment designed to strengthen the pair’s diplomatic relationship.

Bloomberg reported the date centre partnership, which is backed by the Trump administration, is targeting 10-megawatts of computing capacity. It is expected to be operational by the end of 2027.

The data centre will be built on government land near the capital of Asuncion.

The news site noted Taiwan will supply Nvidia chips and supporting equipment, while Paraguay brings cheap hydropower and basic infrastructure to the partnership.

Both sides are in discussions with the US International Development Finance Corporation over financing arrangements.

Sources told Bloomberg Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund has separately approached Google, Microsoft and Amazon about potentially investing in the project or taking up capacity.

Paraguay is one of only a handful of countries worldwide which still maintains formal ties with Taiwan rather than China, but pressure is growing domestically for a reassessment of the position as neighbouring countries have attracted substantial Chinese investment.

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