Iridium Launches Next Generation IoT Platform

Iridium has introduced the 9604, a small "three‑in‑one" IoT module that combines its Short Burst Data satellite service, LTE‑M cellular, and GNSS positioning in a single unit. The company pitches it as a way to cut hardware complexity and cost, shrink board space by more than half, and speed up launches of dual‑mode connected devices, particularly in high‑volume, price‑sensitive markets. Early beta users say the module let them remove separate components, reduce power and board size, and shift more of the work to software, including location‑aware network selection between satellite and cellular.

The 9604 marks a shift in Iridium’s IoT strategy from satellite‑only modules to a unified, multi‑mode architecture. It sits alongside two other Iridium IoT paths: standards‑based direct‑to‑device services using third‑party chips, and higher‑capacity messaging via Iridium Certus. Built on the u‑blox SARA‑R5 platform, the 16 x 26 x 2.4 mm module targets industrial, infrastructure, and mobility use cases where dual‑mode connectivity was previously too expensive. Commercial availability is planned for June 2026, with a development kit for testing both satellite and cellular functions.