Iridium Communications announced that its NTN Direct service has entered on‑air testing, transmitting the first mobile‑originated message, "To Iridium and Beyond," over its low‑Earth orbit constellation on January 21 2026. The milestone demonstrates the company’s ability to deliver standards‑based NB‑IoT and direct‑to‑device communications worldwide.
The test employed Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151 LTE‑M/NB‑IoT/NTN module, a low‑power chip that enables battery‑powered devices to connect globally. It also incorporated new 5G waveform algorithms via a software update to Iridium’s satellites, allowing the service to operate on the L‑band spectrum and comply with 3GPP Release 19 NB‑IoT specifications.
Iridium’s NTN Direct service is the next evolution of Project Stardust, launched in January 2024, and represents a shift from proprietary satellite solutions to a standards‑based, plug‑and‑play offering that can be adopted by mobile network operators and device manufacturers without hardware changes. The on‑air test confirms the company’s readiness to move the service into a beta phase and commercial availability later in 2026.
The service targets the growing direct‑to‑device (D2D) market, projected to generate significant revenue by 2035. By offering 100% global coverage, including pole‑to‑pole reach, Iridium differentiates itself from competitors such as Starlink, Lynk Global, and Viasat. Partnerships with MNOs like Deutsche Telekom and Syniverse will help accelerate market adoption and provide a distribution channel for the service.
CEO Matt Desch said the milestone "confirms our standards‑based approach and our readiness to offer mobile network operators and device manufacturers a satellite‑enabled connectivity option without proprietary hardware changes." Nordic Semiconductor EVP Oyvind Birkenes added that the test "proves global connectivity is no longer limited by infrastructure, and that battery‑powered devices can now deploy anywhere using a standard, low‑power module."
Iridium’s 2024 revenue rose to $830.7 million, up from $791 million in 2023, and earnings increased to $112.8 million, reflecting the company’s solid financial foundation that supports continued investment in the NTN Direct service and other satellite‑enabled solutions.
The content on EveryTicker is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. We are not financial advisors. Consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Any actions you take based on information from this site are solely at your own risk.