Iridium Communications is launching “Project Stardust” to develop a direct-to-device satellite communications service using its existing satellite constellation, targeting smartphones, IoT devices, and asset tracking.
The company plans to update its satellites and develop a new chipset design to enable standards-based 5G services, allowing devices to roam onto their system when out of terrestrial coverage.
With the potential to generate billions in revenues, the satellite direct-to-device market is growing rapidly, with Iridium aiming to compete globally by leveraging its already deployed network and global spectrum presence.
Iridium expects to begin testing the service next year and plans to launch commercially in 2026. The move comes after Qualcomm pulled out of a previous arrangement to provide the necessary silicon. Iridium believes there is a significant market opportunity in the satellite direct-to-device space, which is predicted to generate billions of dollars in revenues. The company plans to focus on low-speed use cases and believes its global spectrum presence will differentiate it from regional offerings.