Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite operator Iridium has done a deal with Deutsche Telekom that paves the way for space-based NB-IoT services.
Under the deal, DT will integrate its terrestrial network with Iridium’s satellite network. Once that work has been completed, the two will initiate a roaming agreement, giving the German incumbent access to the Iridium NTN Direct service which, when it goes live in 2026, will provide 3GPP standards-based narrowband IoT connectivity from satellites directly to devices.
“We look forward to integrating Iridium as our next non-terrestrial roaming partner for IoT connectivity. By providing our customers with access to Iridium’s extensive LEO satellite network, they will benefit from broadened global NB-IoT coverage to reliably connect sensors, machines and vehicles,” said Jens Olejak, head of satellite IoT at Deutsche Telekom. “This convergence is now possible through affordable, 3GPP-standardised 5G devices that function across both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.”
Applications will include messaging, tracking, and status updates for IoT, automotive, and industrial devices, with use cases spanning international cargo logistics, remote utility monitoring, smart agriculture, and emergency response.
The launch of NTN Direct has been made possible by Project Stardust. Launched in early 2024, it has seen Iridium upgrade its existing L-band LEO network to support narrowband non-terrestrial-networking (NB-NTN).
The obvious benefit to Iridium is that it didn’t have to undertake a costly and time-consuming constellation deployment.
“Iridium NTN Direct is designed to complement terrestrial networks like Deutsche Telekom and provide seamless global coverage, extending the reach of their own infrastructure,” said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. “This partnership underscores the power of creating a straightforward, scalable solution that builds on existing technology to enable global service expansion.”
The deal between DT and Iridium comes at a time when satellite operators are dreaming bigger than ever.
Last week, Starlink operator SpaceX agreed to acquire AWS-4 and H-block spectrum from EchoStar for the princely sum of $17 billion. The frequencies will be used to strengthen the company’s direct-to-cell business.
Meanwhile, another LEO operator, Globalstar, has ratcheted up its ambitions by initiating a plan to bolster its upcoming C-3 network through the addition of another complementary constellation called HIBLEO-XL-1.
Details are scant, but a Space Intel report from May 2022 revealed that Globalstar had registered with regulators in Europe its intention to launch 3,080 satellites at altitudes of between 485-700 kilometres.
“We believe that bringing HIBLEO-XL-1 into use provides Globalstar with significant optionality as the company grows as a major provider of connectivity in the global space economy that is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035,” said Globalstar CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs. “We look forward to providing operational updates on our progress as we enter a new era in Globalstar’s expanding investments in connecting everyone, everywhere.”
A little further away from terra firma, SES has struck a deal with space technology specialist to K2 Space to develop a new generation of medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites.
Geared towards commercial and government applications, an on-orbit mission is in the works for as soon as Q1 2026.
“Our future MEO network will evolve through agile innovation cycles,” said SES chief exec Adel Al-Saleh. “By collaborating with K2 Space and other trusted innovative partners, we’re combining our solutions development experience and operational depth with NewSpace agility to develop a flexible, software-defined network that adapts to customer requirements.”
In addition, SES has also partnered with France-based laser specialist Cailabs to test optical ground stations that use lasers to transmit and receive data from space.
“Our Optical Ground Station technology, already field-proven with a variety of satellites and terminals, offers top performance in mitigating atmospheric turbulence and maintaining resilient communications, while delivering features that are essential for secure communications in today’s most demanding environments,” said Jean-François Morizur, CEO of Cailabs.
Each remote-operated ground station can handle two-way transmission at data rates of up to 10 Gbps.
“Optical communication can provide much higher bandwidth, better data security, and less risk of spectrum congestion,” said Carmel Ortiz, SVP of MEO programmes at SES. “The Cailabs Optical Ground Stations can play a central role in our global network of gateways with access to high-throughput infrastructure.”
With commercial satellite direct-to-device service deployments already underway, one could be forgiven for thinking that the pace of development might settle down, allowing the newly-deployed technology – which takes a long time and a lot of capital to invent and deploy – to mature.
However, these continuing developments suggest that the satellite sector is merely getting warmed up.
Source: https://www.telecoms.com/