Iridium Communications announced a partnership with Vodafone IoT to integrate its Iridium NTN Direct service, expanding the company’s global NB‑IoT coverage.
The partnership will allow Vodafone IoT to offer its 215 million‑device network with Iridium’s L‑band satellite connectivity, enabling devices in remote locations such as wind farms, oil pipelines, shipping and emergency services to remain connected.
Iridium NTN Direct is a 3GPP‑standard NB‑IoT and direct‑to‑device service that will launch commercially in 2026, providing truly global coverage, reliability and low‑power connectivity that is weather‑resilient.
The deal positions Iridium to capture new revenue streams from Vodafone’s extensive customer base, strengthens its foothold in the growing NB‑IoT market, and reinforces its strategy of delivering mission‑critical connectivity worldwide.
Iridium’s Q3 2025 revenue reached $226.9 million, up 6.8% from $212.8 million in Q3 2024, with service revenue at $165.2 million and equipment/engineering/support revenue at $61.7 million. Operational EBITDA rose to $136.6 million from $124.4 million, reflecting strong demand for satellite‑based IoT services. The partnership aligns with Iridium’s “Project Stardust” initiative to integrate NB‑IoT NTN standards into its existing LEO constellation, positioning it against competitors such as AST SpaceMobile, Lynk, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
Vodafone IoT, which manages a large network of devices, will enhance its service offering by providing satellite connectivity for devices in remote areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable, expanding its reach into wind farms, oil pipelines, shipping and emergency services.
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