Digitanimal: Intelligent animal tracking thanks to NB IoT and Satellite

The Spanish provider Digitanimal S. L. combines traditional livestock farming with cutting-edge IoT technology, supporting farmers with expertise and an all-in-one solution on their path to digitalization. Robust GPS trackers attached to the animals' collars continuously capture location and activity data and transmit it securely. By default, data is transferred via NB-IoT – the energy-efficient cellular technology from Deutsche Telekom, specifically designed for IoT applications.

What makes Digitanimal unique: if mobile coverage fails – for example, in mountainous areas or on remote pastures – farmers can simply switch to satellite connectivity via the app. This feature is based on the 3GPP standard for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), ensuring stable connectivity even beyond traditional networks.

Using the associated app, farmers can monitor the movement patterns of their animals in real time, receive automatic alerts in case of unusual behavior, and even activate acoustic signals to help locate individual animals – a kind of digital cowbell.

The result: near-complete coverage, greater efficiency, and improved animal welfare. Farmers save time and resources, detect issues early, and can respond more precisely – no matter where their animals are. This makes modern livestock farming possible even in areas with limited infrastructure: more efficient, more transparent, and reliably connected.

Digitanimal’s solution offers greater transparency and control in herd management. Position and movement data are captured at user-defined intervals, while automatic alerts notify farmers if an animal remains inactive or stationary for an extended period. This allows for early detection of issues such as injuries or calving – contributing significantly to safety and animal welfare.

At the same time, operational efficiency increases: animals can be located more quickly during herding, and time-consuming search efforts are significantly reduced. The solution is scalable and especially suited for farms with typical herd sizes of 75 to 150 animals – often located in mountainous or rural areas with limited network coverage. Farmers benefit from reliable data, reduced workload, and digital support that noticeably eases daily operations.

Digitanimal is thinking ahead: in the future, vital data such as heart rate and temperature will also be recorded and transmitted – for even deeper insights into animal well-being and more precise health monitoring.

During product development, Digitanimal tested and rigorously evaluated several solutions. The turning point came during the pilot phase in the Pyrenees – a region where mobile connectivity had previously been nearly non-existent. For local farmers, monitoring their animals was a matter of luck: no stable connection, no data, no overview. With the introduction of satellite-enabled trackers, everything changed. Within just a few hours, farms achieved over 90% data coverage with location updates every 30 minutes – in areas previously considered digital no-man’s land.

For the first time, farmers could track their animals in real time, analyze movement patterns, and respond more quickly when an animal stopped moving or showed unusual behavior. Uncertainty turned into control, guesswork became knowledge – and an idea became tangible proof.

Digitanimal's satellite solution was developed in close cooperation with Deutsche Telekom's IoT team and our satellite connectivity partner Skylo – from network connection to extensive field tests and technical fine-tuning– from network integration and extensive field testing to technical fine-tuning. In alpine regions, a typical edge scenario emerged: trackers in motion without optimal antenna alignment. Initial reception issues were successfully resolved through targeted firmware optimizations and adjusted transmission parameters – all while maintaining high energy efficiency.
 

A key milestone on the path to market readiness was device certification for satellite operation. As part of the Early Adopter Program in 2023, it became clear: technical innovation always brings new requirements. Telekom and Digitanimal tackled this challenge together – pragmatically, collaboratively, and with a solution-oriented mindset.

As a strong technology partner, Deutsche Telekom participated in additional tests and provided support with technical know-how. The result: a robust solution that can withstand all requirements – and a strong example of partnership in action right up to the last mile.

With Deutsche Telekom, companies get a solution that intelligently combines cellular and satellite connectivity – one network for two worlds. Devices connect efficiently via NB-IoT and LTE-M, while satellite connectivity (NB-NTN) steps in as a fallback wherever terrestrial networks are unavailable. Everything runs through a single contract and a central management platform – including transparent control over SIMs, data usage, and contract durations.

Instead of relying on proprietary silo solutions, Telekom uses the 3GPP standard – a future-proof foundation that integrates seamlessly into device roadmaps and existing business processes. Security is a top priority: protected M2M communication, lifecycle management, and OTA updates ensure smooth operation and full control over every device.

As a partner, Telekom supports its customers from concept to field testing – with technical expertise, certification support, and live operation optimization. And all of that across borders: an outstanding global roaming offering ensures seamless operation. One master contract, one point of contact, one platform to manage SIMs – no matter where the livestock tracker is used.