Iridium Communications Inc., McLean, Va., has introduced a next-generation Internet of Things (IoT) module designed to combine satellite, cellular and positioning services into a single device aimed at global deployments.
Announced Feb. 24, the Iridium 9604 integrates the company’s Short Burst Data (SBD) satellite service with LTE-M cellular connectivity and GNSS positioning. The satellite operator said the three-in-one platform is intended to reduce hardware complexity and lower costs for high-volume, price-sensitive IoT applications.
The 9604 is built on the u-blox SARA-R5 platform and measures 16x26x2.4 mm. According to Iridium, the compact form factor represents its smallest module to date and can reduce board space requirements by 60% or more compared with multi-component designs.
“By integrating cellular, GNSS, and Iridium satellite into a single, power-efficient module, we're giving customers the flexibility to design and deploy lower cost, smaller, power-efficient, and location-aware solutions without the burden of integrating multiple components,” said Tim Last, executive vice president, Iridium.
Iridium said a beta program launched earlier this year was oversubscribed. Participants cited reduced bill-of-material costs, simplified power architecture and the ability to enable location-aware network selection between terrestrial LTE-M and satellite connectivity.
Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control, said in a statement that using the 9604 allowed his company to eliminate two components from its hardware design and reduce board size.
“Additionally, having dual mode connectivity options enables a smarter, location-aware network selection in our application,” MacLeod said.
Dean Welten, CEO of Everlink, said integrating the 9604 into his company’s cloud platform would support global connectivity and operational efficiency for customers operating in remote areas.
The 9604 reflects a broader shift in Iridium’s IoT strategy from satellite-only modules to multi-mode connectivity. The company now outlines three IoT service paths:
- SBD service integrated with cellular and GNSS through the 9604 or dedicated SBD modules
- Iridium NTN Direct for standards-based direct-to-device connectivity using third-party chips
- Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT) for larger payloads through the Iridium Certus 9704
Iridium said commercial availability for the 9604 will begin in June 2026. A development kit will be offered to allow customers to test both satellite and cellular services ahead of full deployment.
The company targets applications across industrial monitoring, infrastructure management and mobile assets operating beyond the reach of terrestrial networks, including maritime, energy and remote fleet operations.
