Iridium Communications plans to release a tiny chip next year to protect devices relying on navigation satellites from jamming and spoofing, reinforcing one of the L-band operator’s core strengths as SpaceX’s Starlink encroaches on other parts of its business.

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Iridium’s shares closed down more than 7% Oct. 23 after the satellite operator lowered its full-year service revenue outlook again, while withdrawing its $1 billion target for 2030 amid mounting competition from SpaceX.

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Viasat is considering investing in spacecraft with other Mobile Satellite Service operators as the promise of direct-to-smartphone technology drives unprecedented cooperation among historically isolated networks.

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Iridium Communications announced plans March 4 to buy out Satelles, which provides a backup for GPS via the satellite operator’s L-band network, marking the first acquisition in the 36-year-old company’s history.  

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A year-old Portuguese startup has raised around $2 million to fly a payload on a commercial small satellite to demonstrate plans for a narrowband connectivity network.

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Iridium Communications expects to get another five years out of its satellites, pushing out any need to complete a replenishment of the L-band connectivity constellation to at least 2035.

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Iridium Communications and private sector groups worried Ligado’s proposed terrestrial network would interfere with GPS are backing efforts to throw out the company’s lawsuit against the U.S. government.

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Iridium Communications plans to make its low Earth orbit constellation compatible with 5G standards used by mass-market smartphones, aiming to enable them to access messaging and SOS services outside cellular coverage from 2026.

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Semiconductor giant Qualcomm is scrapping plans to provide the technology Android smartphones would need to directly connect to Iridium’s satellites when they can’t reach a cell tower.

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While there is growing interest in providing connectivity by satellites directly to phones, there is no consensus on how quickly that market will grow, or even what that market should be called.

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Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) a leading provider of global voice and data satellite communications, today announced the introduction of its Iridium Certus® aviation commercial service, providing a secure cockpit […]

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Iridium Communications is redoubling efforts to reverse U.S. regulatory approval for Ligado’s terrestrial wireless plans after Canada rejected the network following GPS interference concerns.

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SpaceX launched a technology demonstration satellite for OneWeb’s second-generation broadband constellation May 20, along with spares for the British firm’s current low Earth orbit network and another that U.S.-based Iridium Communications operates.

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Executives seeking new businesses from connecting satellites directly to standard smartphones are divided over how quickly this market could grow.

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Executives with plans to connect satellites directly to smartphones sparred at the SmallSat Symposium Feb. 7 over which spectrum strategy will lead to success in this emerging market.

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Iridium Communications Inc. (Iridium) (Nasdaq: IRDM) and the National Geographic Society today announced a new philanthropic program in support of National Geographic Explorers (Explorers), based on the shared belief that […]

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GIT Satellite Communications (GIT) announced today that it has become an Iridium Certus® service provider and will support U.S. government customers with hardware platforms, airtime, and data services. A long-time […]

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Iridium unveiled chip maker Qualcomm Jan. 5 as the partner behind plans to connect smartphones to its satellite constellation this year.

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Iridium has entered into a service provider agreement with a company widely expected to be Samsung to connect its satellites to smartphones.

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Initial direct-to-smartphone services from Iridium’s constellation will support occasional communications for emergencies and other unforeseen needs in remote areas worldwide, CEO Matt Desch said Oct. 20.

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An independent review of Ligado’s planned deployment of a terrestrial wireless network concluded that it will likely interfere with GPS signals and with space-based communications services provided by Iridium.

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Iridium will launch five of its remaining six ground spare satellites on a Falcon 9 rideshare mission in 2023, the company announced Sept. 8.

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Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) today announced that it has reached an agreement with SpaceX to launch up to five of the company’s remaining ground spare satellites from the Iridium® […]

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Satellite operator Iridium Communications said July 26 it has entered into a development agreement to enable its technology in smartphones.

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