Iridium, a leader in global voice and data satellite communications, has announced its collaboration with Nordic Semiconductor to integrate its Iridium NTN Direct℠ service into Nordic’s LTE-M/NB-IoT modules and chipsets. Nordic Semiconductor is recognized for its low-power wireless connectivity solutions across cellular IoT (LTE-M, NB-IoT), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread, and serves major brands in consumer, industrial, and healthcare sectors. Their cellular IoT solutions are ideal for applications like global tracking, utility metering, and industrial remote monitoring.
Iridium NTN Direct aims to be the world’s first truly global NB-IoT service, developed through Iridium’s Project Stardust initiative. This initiative aligns with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project’s (3GPP) acceptance of enhancements in its upcoming release, enabling Iridium’s satellite service to be accessible to any device with a 3GPP release 19 compliant chipset. Nordic plans to incorporate the Iridium NTN Direct service into its 3GPP release 19 NTN roadmap, leveraging the proven reliability of the Iridium® network.
Bryan Hartin, Executive Vice President of Iridium, stated, “The integration of Iridium NTN Direct into Nordic’s modules marks a new chapter for both companies, creating a wide array of connected devices capable of global connectivity.” He expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, which aims to enhance consumer and industrial connectivity.
Oyvind Birkenes, Executive Vice President for Long Range BU at Nordic Semiconductor, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of enabling low-cost, 3GPP-standard NB-IoT modules to connect with Iridium’s satellite network, thus realizing the vision of universal connectivity for global IoT applications.
Iridium’s network is well-suited for D2D and NB-IoT services, offering global coverage and high reliability. The 3GPP Release 19 is expected to be finalized by the end of 2025. Iridium will provide more insights about NTN Direct at the Mobile World Congress Las Vegas’s NTN Summit on October 9, 2024.
For more details about Iridium NTN Direct, visit www.iridium.com/ntn-direct.
About Iridium Communications Inc.
Iridium® is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that covers the entire globe, enabling real-time connections for individuals and organizations. With a robust portfolio of solutions designed for global communications, Iridium acquired Satelles in 2024 and introduced the Iridium Satellite Time and Location service. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Iridium’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For further information, visit www.iridium.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect Iridium’s current expectations and include predictions about 3GPP Release 19, the benefits of the Iridium NTN Direct service, and its integration by Nordic Semiconductor. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could affect outcomes include the finalization of 3GPP Release 19, the technical development of NTN Direct, and Iridium’s ability to maintain its satellite constellation. For a complete list of risk factors, please refer to Iridium’s filings with the SEC. Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements made in this release.
