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Tag: Iridium short burst data

  • 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.

  • Iridium launches next-generation IoT platform

    Iridium launches next-generation IoT platform

    Iridium Communications, a provider of global voice, data, and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) satellite services, has unveiled the Iridium 9604, a compact, three-in-one IoT module that integrates Iridium short burst data (SBD) satellite service, LTE-M cellular connectivity, and GNSS positioning into a single platform.

    By combining these features in one device, the Iridium 9604 reduces solution complexity, lowers costs, and accelerates time to market, making dual-mode IoT connectivity viable for price-sensitive, high-volume deployments.

    The Iridium 9604 beta program — launched earlier this year and oversubscribed by a select group of companies — has generated positive industry feedback highlighting:

    • Lower costs, simplified design, and enabling of location-aware network selection
    • Savings of 60 percent or more in board space with the 3-in-1 module, Iridium’s smallest ever form factor
    • Easy-to-use developer resources.

    “As an early Iridium 9604 developer, utilizing the three-in-one module has already fundamentally changed our product economics,” said Alastair MacLeod, CEO, Ground Control. “We eliminated two components from our bill of materials, reduced our board size, and simplified our power architecture.”

    MacLeod continued, “Additionally, having dual mode connectivity options enables a smarter, location-aware network selection in our application. The Iridium 9604 turned what would have been a complex multi-component design into a single-module solution. This is a major breakthrough for our IoT solutions.”

    “Our customers require essential data and real-time intelligence to operate with confidence anywhere in the world,” said Dean Welten, CEO, Everlink. “By integrating the Iridium 9604 with our secure cloud platform, we can now enable global connectivity, greater operational efficiency, and measurable impact at scale.”

    Representing the next phase of Iridium’s IoT strategy, the Iridium 9604 is moving the company beyond traditional satellite-only modules to a unified, multi-mode connectivity architecture. The Iridium network now offers customers three IoT service paths to follow:

    • Iridium SBD packaged with cellular and GNSS in the Iridium 9604 or SBD/Iridium Burst dedicated modules
    • Iridium NTN Direct for standards-based direct-to-device using third-party chips
    • Iridium Messaging Transport-based (IMT) for industrial-scale, larger payload capabilities with the Iridium Certus 9704

    The Iridium 9604, built on the u-blox SARA-R5 platform, delivers a compact 16 mm x 26 mm x 2.4 mm form factor, best for dual-mode IoT deployments previously cost-prohibitive across industrial, infrastructure, and mobility applications.

    Commercial availability begins in June 2026 with the Iridium 9604 Development Kit made available for testing satellite and cellular services. Reserve priority access at www.iridium.com/9604.