Only one company covers the entire globe

Iridium is the world's only truly global mobile satellite communications company, with voice and data solutions covering every inch of the Earth's surface (including oceans, airways and Polar Regions) through a constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting.

How It Works

The Iridium system is a satellite-based, wireless personal communications network providing a robust suite of voice and data features all over the globe. It is comprised of three principal components - the satellite network, the ground network and the Iridium subscriber products, including phones and data modems.

The design of the Iridium network allows voice and data messages to be routed anywhere in the world. Voice and data calls are relayed from one satellite to another until they reach the satellite above the Iridium handset or terminal and the signal is relayed back to Earth. When an Iridium customer places a call from a handset or terminal, it connects to whatever satellite happens to be overhead, and is relayed among satellites around the globe to whatever satellite is above the appropriate Earth gateway, which downlinks the call and transfers it to the global public voice network or Internet so that it reaches the recipient.

The satellites are in a near-polar orbit at an altitude of 485 miles (780 km). The 66 active satellites fly in formation in six orbital planes, evenly spaced around the planet, each with 11 satellites equally spaced apart from each other in that orbital plane. A single satellite completely circles the Earth once every 100 minutes, traveling at a rate of 16,832 miles per hour, and traveling from horizon to horizon across the sky in about ten minutes. As a satellite moves out of reach, the call is seamlessly handed over to the next satellite coming into view.

Network Performance

Iridium owns and operates the most reliable global communications network available. Our reach is unparalleled and our service is unrivaled. And, Iridium call quality is as much as three times greater than the competition's.

· More than 99 percent of calls placed through Iridium handsets were successfully connected compared to 51.3 percent of all calls from a competitor's handset.

· 98.1 percent of calls on Iridium handsets were successfully connected without being dropped during a three-minute compared to 36.2 percent of calls on a competitor's handset.

Iridium Next

Iridium is constantly finding new ways to expand the possible, including NEXT, next second-generation constellation of 66 LEO satellites with enhanced capabilities. In February 2007, Iridium announced a bold vision called "Iridium NEXT." NEXT will replace the company's current satellite constellation with an even more powerful system -- before Iridium's high quality of service is ever compromised due to constellation age.

This new system is currently under development by Iridium system engineers in conjunction with a number of experienced aerospace companies. Specifications are being written, and suppliers are expected to sign up sometime in 2008. Funding for the new system will largely come from the profits of the existing system, with any additional capital raised via public and private concerns. While NEXT hasn't been completely specified yet, there are a number of important principles Iridium is incorporating into in its design.

Satellite Phones

Iridium delivers essential communications services to and from remote areas where terrestrial communications are not available. Iridium's voice and data telecommunications services are delivered via compact Iridium 9505A and 9555 satellite phones, built to provide reliable service in difficult environments.