Iridium Satellite
Iridium Communications Inc. is a prominent provider of satellite communications products and services. Founded in 2001, the company operates a constellation of 66 satellites, along with additional spares, which orbit the Earth at a low altitude to offer global voice and data communications. This system is unique in that it provides truly global coverage, including polar regions where other satellite communication systems often have less effective service.
History and Development
The concept for Iridium originated in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a Motorola project. The name "Iridium" comes from the chemical element Iridium, which has an atomic number of 77, symbolizing the originally planned 77 satellites. Although the actual constellation uses fewer satellites, the name remained. Financial difficulties plagued the company in its early years, leading to bankruptcy just months after launching the initial constellation in 1998. In 2001, the company was restructured and re-emerged as Iridium Communications Inc.
Constellation
The Iridium satellite constellation is designed for low Earth orbit (LEO), which allows for lower latency and power requirements compared to geostationary satellites. The satellites are arranged in six orbital planes, ensuring global coverage and the ability to provide consistent communication even in remote locations.
Services
Iridium offers a variety of services aimed at different markets:
- Voice Communication: Reliable satellite phone service that functions globally.
- Data Communication: Services include short messaging, paging, and machine-to-machine (M2M) data transfer, which are useful for tracking and telemetry.
- Maritime and Aeronautical Services: These services provide essential communication capabilities for marine and aviation industries.
- IoT Solutions: Iridium's satellite network is leveraged for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, enabling the connectivity of sensors and devices worldwide.
- Emergency Services: The company's network is often used in disaster recovery situations, emergency response, and areas lacking terrestrial communication infrastructure.
Iridium NEXT
In 2019, Iridium completed a significant upgrade of its constellation known as Iridium NEXT. This $3 billion project replaced all of the company's original satellites with new, more capable ones. The upgraded network improves data speeds, reliability, and latency and also introduces new capabilities like improved navigation and surveillance data for the aviation sector through the Aireon system.
Partnerships and Customers
Iridium works with numerous partners and serves a diverse range of industries including maritime, aviation, government, military, emergency services, and more. Major customers include entities in defense sectors, commercial enterprises, and humanitarian organizations.
Governance and Financials
Iridium Communications Inc. is a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol IRDM. The company has consistently worked on expanding its market reach and diversifying its service offerings to drive revenue growth and shareholder value.
Future Prospects
Iridium continues to innovate in satellite communications, focusing on increasing data throughput, reducing costs, and maintaining robust and reliable service. They are also exploring new markets and applications for their technology, such as expanding IoT capabilities and partnering with other aerospace and communication companies.
Overall, Iridium Communications Inc. remains a critical player in global satellite communications, known for its reliability and extensive reach in both standard and niche markets.
9501 Pager, 9505 Portable Phone, 9570 Portable Dock, Satellite Modem, Satellite Terminal, Short Burst Data Modem, Data Kit, Multi-Exchange Unit 2000
- Phone: 301-571-6242
- Web: www.iridium.com
- Fax: 301-571-6250
Locations
Iridium News
Field Testing Iridium OpenPort in Post Hurricane Gulf
Iridium Satellite Names New Executive VP
Iridium Satellite announces the appointment of John Roddy as executive vice president for ground operations and product development. With more than 27 years of telecommunications…
AMOS Connect Basic Version Available for Iridium
Xantic has announced that the basic version of AMOS Connect is now capable of working over the Iridium platform. A free of charge CD of this premium quality email…
Iridium Debuts Global Sat Fax, Enhanced Messaging
Iridium Satellite LLC announced the launch of a new satellite fax service that will permit subscribers to send and receive faxes from any location in the world directly…
SKANTI Iridium SSAS DNV Approved
Denmark-based SKANTI has obtained DNV approval for the add-on SSAS-box for the well-proven Iridium terminal using the network of 66 reliable satellites. DNV approves…
Iridium Satellite Predicts Constellation Life Span to Extend Through Mid-2010
Iridium Satellite LLC announced that it predicts its constellation of satellites will retain mission functionality into the next decade, based on internal analyses of satellite and operational data…
Iridium Introduces Crew Calling
Iridium Satellite LLC announced the availability of crew calling services for the maritime industry. Iridium's crew calling solution simultaneously supports pre…
Iridium and Telstra Sign Deal
Iridium Satellite LLC announced that Australia's Telstra Corporation Limited has signed a service partner agreement to market and sell Iridium services. The multi…
Iridium Satellite Signs Deal with Telstra
Global wireless communications operator, Iridium Satellite LLC, has signed a service partner agreement with Australia's Telstra Corporation Ltd. to market and sell Iridium services.
Xantic, Iridium Become Partners
Xantic and Iridium Satellite LLC have announced the signing of a major agreement by which Xantic will offer Iridium's voice and data services through its worldwide network.
Iridium Satellite Signs Telenor
Iridium Satellite LLC announced that Oslo, Norway-based Telenor Satellite Services has signed a service provider agreement to market and sell Iridium services. Under the agreement…
Iridium Aggressively Pursues New Outlets
Iridium Satellite LLC, the company born from the ashes of what was one of the most spectacular and initial telecom failures, has fortified its market position in the past year…
Iridium Approves WCC Comms Solutions
World Communication Center (WCC), a provider of worldwide satellite voice and data communications, announced that its MariTrack SSAS and ComCenter solutions have…
Iridium Wins Security Contract
ZOCA Container Security BV has developed an innovative approach to preventing unauthorized opening of shipping containers, a serious problem in today’s shipping industry.
Iridium Teams with Stratos, Tesacom
In its effort to continue its expansive growth in the South American market, Iridium® Satellite announced a partnership with Tesacom®, one of the key South American…
Admiral Blair Joins Iridium Board of Directors
Iridium Satellite is pleased to announce that Admiral Dennis Blair, U.S. Navy (Retired) has joined its Board of Directors. Admiral Blair recently served as the president…
UASC Equips Fleet with Iridium Systems
United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) is installing Iridium satellite terminals on 29 ships, as well as at its home office in Dubai, U.A.E. in a move to reduce monthly satellite communication costs.
Iridium Rolls out Satellite Fax Service
Iridium Satellite announced the commercial rollout of its new satellite fax solution, which will permit users to send and receive documents over the Iridium network…
Iridium Announces Q4 Results
Iridium Satellite announces that it has 175,000 subscribers worldwide as of December 31, 2006. The new figure represents a 23.2 percent increase over last year’s subscriber total of 142,000.
Iridium Names Three VADs
Iridium Satellite announced an expansion of its global network of value-added developers (VADs) program with the appointment of three new companies in key market sectors.
