Fi, a dog tracker company founded in 2017, launched the world's first satellite-connected GPS tracker for dogs on July 8. The Fi Ultra Direct-to-Cell tracker combines GPS positioning with a battery-powered modem that connects to T-Mobile's cellular network and Starlink satellites when ground coverage is unavailable. CEO Jonathan Bensamoun developed the device after hearing repeated customer complaints about coverage gaps in rural and remote areas, addressing the gap that emerged after Starlink began offering direct-to-device connectivity in 2024.
The tracker operates by monitoring a dog's position in real time and alerting owners via smartphone app when the animal leaves a defined geo fence boundary. The device runs for multiple days on a single charge and lets owners send vibration or sound signals to entice dogs to return home. An estimated 11 million dogs worldwide are currently tracked by GPS devices, but Fi's system is the first to provide what the company describes as "nearly omnipresent connectivity" by bridging cellular dead zones through satellite links.