GPS World

Tag: integrated GNSS

  • Iridium hybrid IoT module now commercially available

    Iridium hybrid IoT module now commercially available

    The Iridium 9604 module and development kit streamline global IoT development with integrated satellite, cellular and GNSS connectivity

    Iridium Communications has announced commercial availability of the Iridium 9604 module and Development Kit, giving developers, OEMs and solution providers a faster path to build and scale connected IoT solutions worldwide.

    Combining GNSS positioning, Iridium short burst data satellite connectivity, and LTE-M cellular, the Iridium 9604 module delivers a compact, integrated solution for global IoT deployments.

    The Iridium 9604 Development Kin, back side. (Credit: Iridium)
    The Iridium 9604 Development Kit, back side. (Credit: Iridium)

    Alongside the Iridium 9604 Development Kit, developers can rapidly prototype, test and validate hybrid satellite, cellular, and GNSS applications with resources that simplify integration and streamline deployment workflows.

    Built on the u-blox SARA-R5 platform, the Iridium 9604 is designed to reduce hardware complexity, lower integration costs, and accelerate time to market for connected solutions operating across industrial, infrastructure, transportation, mobility, utilities, maritime and remote-monitoring applications. The integrated design helps reduce board space requirements by 60 percent or more while simplifying RF routing, power architecture, and firmware development, Iridium said.

    Early developers and beta participants reported significant operational and economic benefits from the platform’s integrated architecture.

    “The Iridium 9604 has enabled us to develop a truly global asset tracking solution without relying on terrestrial network infrastructure. Its reliable coverage, compact form factor, and straightforward integration have significantly accelerated our development process and allowed us to focus on optimizing the end-user experience,” said Askar Gabit, CEO, GPSOne. “For applications in remote and challenging environments, the Iridium network provides the confidence that critical data can be delivered when it matters most.”

    The Iridium 9604 gives developers independent control over satellite, LTE-M and GNSS subsystems, enabling flexible implementation of failover logic, location-aware connectivity decisions, and application-specific routing strategies. A unified AT command set and comprehensive SDK resources further simplify development and integration.

    Built for scalable and power-sensitive IoT applications, the Iridium 9604 features a compact 16 x 26 x 2.4 mm form factor optimized for deployments where size, resiliency and efficiency are critical. The platform supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou GNSS services alongside LTE-M (Cat-M1) and Iridium’s 100% global L-band satellite network.

    The Iridium 9604 represents the next evolution of Iridium’s broader IoT strategy, expanding beyond traditional satellite-only hardware to support unified, multi-mode connectivity architectures. The Iridium network now supports multiple IoT pathways, including dedicated Iridium SBD modules, Iridium NTN Direct standards-based direct-to-device capabilities, and larger payload connectivity through the Iridium Certus 9704 module.

    Operating on a global mobile satellite network, the Iridium 9604 delivers reliable connectivity across remote land areas, oceans, airways and polar regions where other networks are unavailable or unreliable.

  • Altair markets narrowband cellular chipset with integrated GNSS

    Altair markets narrowband cellular chipset with integrated GNSS

    LTE chipset maker Altair Semiconductor has demonstrated GNSS functionality integrated in its new ALT1250 narrowband CAT-M1 and NB1 (NB-IoT) chipset.

    In addition to GNSS functionality, the ALT1250’s extreme level of integration eliminates the need for most external components required to design a cellular Internet of Things (IoT) module.

    Its GNSS capability was demonstrated June 13  at the Sierra Wireless Innovation Summit being held at the Paris Novotel Tour Eiffel in Paris, France.

    Approximately the size of a shirt button and less than 100 mm2 in size, an ALT1250 module features support for both Release 13 standards — CAT-M1 and NB1, and includes a wideband RF front-end supporting unlimited combinations of LTE bands within a single hardware design, a multi-layered and hardware-based security framework, an internal application MCU subsystem and packaging that enables standard, low-cost PCB manufacturing.

    “Location determination is essential in many IoT applications — including asset tracking, vehicle monitoring and wearable devices. Satellite positioning is the most accurate method for doing that,” said Eran Eshed, co-founder and vice president of marketing for Altair. “Integrating GNSS functionality in the ALT1250 significantly reduces the overall cost of IoT solutions while offering state-of-the-art, low-power satellite positioning capabilities in a miniature package. The market is responding well to it.

    “We called the ALT1250 a game-changer when we announced it several months ago — integrated GNSS is one of a large set of groundbreaking innovations offered by this chip.”