The settlement offers DT roaming entry to Iridium NTN Direct, a 3GPP standards-based service that permits NB-IoT direct-to-device connectivity
In sum – what to know:
“Pole-to-pole” protection – By integrating Iridium’s forthcoming 5G non-terrestrial community with DT’s terrestrial IoT footprint, clients will get seamless international NB-IoT roaming, together with in distant and excessive environments.
Standardized, reasonably priced units – The partnership leverages 3GPP-standardized 5G direct-to-device tech, enabling sensors, automobiles, and machines to attach throughout each satellite tv for pc and terrestrial networks with out proprietary {hardware}.
Business launch in 2026 – Purposes are anticipated in logistics, agriculture, emergency response, and utilities, with integration and roaming agreements underway to help international deployment.
Iridium Communications and Deutsche Telekom (DT) are teaming as much as lengthen Web of Issues (IoT) connectivity worldwide by integrating Iridium’s forthcoming 5G non-terrestrial community (NTN) service with DT’s international terrestrial IoT infrastructure.
The settlement offers DT roaming entry to Iridium NTN Direct, a 3GPP standards-based service that permits NB-IoT direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity. By combining Iridium’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with DT’s terrestrial footprint, the businesses say the partnership will maintain clients and property linked “from pole to pole.”
“Iridium NTN Direct is designed to enhance terrestrial networks like Deutsche Telekom and supply seamless international protection, extending the attain of their very own infrastructure,” mentioned Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium. “This partnership underscores the ability of making an easy, scalable answer that builds on current expertise to allow international service growth.”
Jens Olejak, head of Satellite tv for pc IoT at Deutsche Telekom, added: “By offering our clients with entry to Iridium’s intensive LEO satellite tv for pc community, they are going to profit from broadened international NB-IoT protection to reliably join sensors, machines and automobiles. This convergence is now doable by means of reasonably priced, 3GPP-standardized 5G units that perform throughout each terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.”
The Iridium constellation is the one satellite tv for pc system offering really international protection by way of L-band spectrum, designed to keep up connectivity in each routine and excessive circumstances, together with hurricanes and blizzards. Its LEO orbits additionally supply decrease latency and higher protection angles in comparison with geostationary methods.
A industrial launch is deliberate for 2026, with anticipated purposes in worldwide cargo logistics, sensible agriculture, emergency response, and distant utility monitoring. Following integration and testing, Iridium and DT plan to finalize a roaming settlement forward of service rollout.
Final yr, Iridium mentioned it was within the “early levels” of deploying NB-IoT and was already collaborating with “a number of” device-to-device (D2D) and IoT corporations to “perceive and incorporate their use circumstances, necessities, and end-user wants” into its deliberate service. On the time, the corporate’s satellite tv for pc community, presently a proprietary answer in L-band spectrum, supported round 2.2 million customers, together with round 1.7 million IoT clients; its subscriber base has grown at a compound annual progress charge of 15% over the past 5 years.
