07 Jul Important Update: Satellite Service Changes and the Future of Your Data

We want to keep you informed about important changes in satellite data services that may impact your experience over the coming months.

Satellite Decommissioning: What’s Changing?
NOAA’s legacy satellites are nearing retirement. Here’s what you need to know:
• NOAA-18: Decommissioned on June 6, 2025.
• NOAA-15 and NOAA-19: Services were degraded starting June 16, 2025.

Each satellite will be decommissioned on the following:
• NOAA-15: July 15, 2025
• NOAA-19: August 29, 2025

What does this mean for you?
With the loss of the Angels satellite in December 2024 and now the 3 NOAA satellites you will likely see a reduction in data throughput and Argos locations.

The Bright Side: Kinéis Commercial Services Are Open!
Despite these challenges, we’re excited to share that Kinéis satellite constellation is complete! The Kinéis satellites are currently receiving transmissions and the data is expected to be available via a new portal & API on October 1, 2025.

What to Expect Over the Next Few Months
July-September 2025:
You may experience some pain points as we transition from the loss of the NOAA satellites to the new Kinéis constellation. With less satellite coverage until the 25 nanosatellites in the Kinéis system are available to you, data throughput and daily locations will likely be reduced, but we are working with the CLS/ Kinéis team to ensure a smooth transition.

October 1, 2025, and Beyond:
All expanded services are expected to be available. The integration of the Argos Legacy system with Kinéis connectivity will be complete, and you will see better satellite coverage with a decrease in the amount of time with no satellites overhead to 15 minutes or less. This will lead to more efficient data throughput.

Our Commitment to You
We are actively working with CLS to ensure the Wildlife Computers Portal is ready to process the data from the new satellites.If you are concerned about the months with a reduction in satellite coverage we suggest you reach out to your Technical Sales Consultant. They can help guide you through possible changes in your programming to minimize the effect of fewer satellites until the Kinéis system is available.

Thank you for your patience and trust as we navigate this transition. We’re confident that the new Kinéis satellite constellation will provide significant improvements with increase in satellite coverage.