Vodafone IoT announced a new partnership with Iridium Communications, a provider of global voice, data, and PNT (positioning, navigation, and timing) satellite services, to integrate its Iridium NTN Direct service. The new partnership aims to extend Vodafone IoT’s coverage beyond the range of terrestrial networks – meaning that devices in the most remote locations will be connected.
Through this partnership, Vodafone IoT will gain access to Iridium NTN Direct – the 3GPP standards-based service providing Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) connectivity – which will keep customers’ IoT devices ubiquitously connected.
Planned for commercial launch in 2026, Iridium NTN Direct will connect Vodafone IoT’s customers using the Iridium network for data messaging, tracking, and real-time monitoring for IoT, automotive, and industrial devices. This is particularly valuable for industries that demand connectivity in extremely remote locations – such as windfarms, oil pipelines, shipping tracking and emergency services.
Erik Brenneis, CEO of Vodafone IoT, said: “We are extremely excited to announce this new partnership with Iridium which opens the door to a new generation of IoT connectivity. By using satellite connectivity, customers will benefit from truly global coverage – meaning they can reliably connect their devices in corners of the world where they can’t today. This marks a significant step in our mission to connect everything, everywhere.”
Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium, said: “Iridium NTN Direct stands out among NTN and NB-IoT services by offering MNOs – like Vodafone IoT – an unmatched combination of truly global coverage, reliability, and capability. This collaboration will help transform the landscape of global connectivity by providing uncompromised scalability and advancing our shared vision to connect and empower enterprise assets and people everywhere.”
With a history of providing safety of life services with the highest reliability, the Iridium network is ideal for direct-to-device (D2D) and NB-IoT services. Operating on globally coordinated L-band spectrum with proven infrastructure, Iridium has an established track record of providing reliable, weather-resilient, and low-power connectivity at scale. This provides a critical advantage for NB-IoT and D2D applications, where consistent performance in remote and mobile environments matters most.
Upon successful integration and testing, Iridium and Vodafone IoT plan to launch a full commercial service for customers across the globe.
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