Iridium Exploring Advanced NewSpace Satellite IoT Opportunities

Sept. 07, 2017

Iridium Communications Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Magnitude Space, an emerging small satellite company.  The signing of this MoU signals Iridium’s interest in exploring collaborative partnerships with complementary NewSpace players, particularly those in the SmallSat low-power arena.  As part of this MoU, the companies will begin discussions on how to collaboratively expand opportunities for space-based Internet of Things (IoT) services with the development of reliable, Low Power Global Area Network (LPGAN) technologies.

“We envision a future where numerous diverse satellite architectures interwork to support the dramatically expanding IoT universe,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “From high bandwidth access points to highly mobile and low latency devices like Iridium supports today, to low power, higher latency networks like Magnitude Space envisions, Iridium has the experience and global platform to enable all of these capabilities to interwork.”

Magnitude Space, headquartered in Amsterdam, is planning to build a network of 18-24 small satellites, that will deliver LPGAN connectivity to remote areas of the world. From monitoring plantation soil moisture levels to tracking livestock, Magnitude Space’s technology will be a cost-effective, reliable option for companies in need of very low-power, low-cost, monitoring and tracking options that require longer life battery and infrequent non-real-time messaging solutions.  

“We are excited to begin exploring how we can work with and benefit from a cooperation with Iridium.  They are arguably the first successful NewSpace player, and have made LEO their successful home when others said it couldn’t be done,” said Ernst Peter Hovinga, CEO,  Magnitude Space. “As we evolve as a company, we feel that Iridium is an ideal partner for us. They set the standard for low earth  satellite network operations, and support a vast distribution and technology partner ecosystem for satellite IoT customers. Since Iridium primarily serves the requirements of customers with fully global, low latency needs, and we plan to meet the needs of companies requiring low-power monitoring services, we are truly complementary in our respective approaches.  We intend to commercially launch in Q2 of 2018 and believe we will be the first to market with such a service offering. Our partnership has the potential to bring two networks together, addressing the total IoT connectivity proposition present in the market today. We look forward to continuing the conversation and learning from a leader in the mobile satellite space.”

This partnership is one of several relationships Iridium has been cultivating within the IoT industry, specifically for low power opportunities.  Developing additional lower power, high latency alternatives can diversify Iridium’s IoT portfolio, and creates more cost-effective, complementary options for its IoT partners.

“Lower power initiatives are a key aspect of Iridium’s IoT business strategy,” said Tim Last, vice president and general manager, Iridium IoT line of business. “Magnitude Space has a solid business proposition with a collaborative approach, which is ideal for this exploratory phase of our relationship.  The industry needs both medium-to-high power satellite-based IoT solutions, as well as LPGAN offerings, and we can now discuss ways to best leverage both our network, and their offerings to expand our portfolio of premium IoT solutions.”

Iridium’s IoT business is currently the Company’s fastest growing line of business which saw commercial IoT data subscribers increase 20 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2017. Iridium is in the process of launching its next-generation constellation, Iridium NEXT, which will enable Iridium Certus^SM, the Company’s state-of-the-art communications platform supporting a portfolio of critical communications solutions.  Specifically, for Iridium IoT services, Iridium Certus will support faster speeds and higher throughputs, delivering an enhanced version of the low latency satellite connectivity it provides today. All Iridium IoT services are compatible with Iridium NEXT.