Iridium

IP communications will inevitably require all remote sites to be linked via digital IP connections when the traditional PSTN lines are switched off in 2025. By understanding the application, the frequency of transmission and volume of data ensures the best communications solution fit - be that BGAN M2M or the new RockREMOTE from Ground Control.

The PSTN will be switched off in December 2025. With 16 million lines and channels to manage, most replacements will be straightforward swaps to cellular or fibre. This leaves an estimated 10% of sites too far from the exchange to be serviced by fibre or broadband over copper, with many of these also requiring more resilience than cellular coverage offers. Here's what Ground Control recommends for these sites.

We can now establish optimal communications to and from even the most inaccessible areas on land, on sea and in the skies, while contributing directly to the reduction of international carbon emissions.

In 2019, Iridium celebrated the final launch of its upgraded satellites to replace all Block 1 units in orbit. This marked the completion of the new Iridium NEXT constellation.

The SparkFun Qwiic Iridium 9603N has been developed in order to provide a method for Short Burst Data (SBD) global communication for Qwiic projects via the Iridium Satellite Network.

Whatever the function, Iridium short burst data (SBD) is a tried, tested, and cost-effective method of getting IoT data back to you via satellite from anywhere on Earth.

The Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden developed the LoTUS (long-term underwater sensing) buoy, a system for collecting oceanographic data from perhaps the most remote place on the planet - the polar region seafloor.

British search and rescue charity SARAID hosted an immersive, natural disaster search and rescue live demonstration day in association with Wireless Innovation and Iridium.

On March 28th 2019, Iridium announced that their new southern hemisphere ground station was brought online in the south of Chile. This new site is a significant breakthrough and improvement for the network, as it marks the first southern hemisphere station to be introduced.