- Vodafone to use Iridium’s NTN Direct satellite service for global NB-IoT coverage
- The partnership will target industries such as energy, logistics, and emergency services
What happened: Vodafone partners with Iridium for global satellite IoT coverage
Vodafone has entered into a partnership with Iridium to utilise its upcoming satellite service, NTN Direct, which is set to launch commercially next year. The service will provide global Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) coverage via Iridium’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, allowing Vodafone to offer new connectivity options to its corporate clients. These options include real-time monitoring, messaging, and tracking for Internet of Things (IoT), automotive, and industrial devices, which will extend far beyond the range of terrestrial networks.
This collaboration marks a significant step in Vodafone’s expansion of its IoT services, offering reliable satellite connectivity to industries operating in remote and underserved regions. Potential customers for the service include wind farms, oil pipelines, shipping trackers, and emergency services, all of which require consistent and global connectivity in locations where terrestrial networks typically do not reach.
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Why it’s important
The integration of Iridium’s satellite connectivity into Vodafone’s portfolio will provide a crucial layer of coverage for industries that rely on IoT devices in hard-to-reach locations. As one of the largest cellular IoT providers globally, with 215 million connections, Vodafone is well-positioned to leverage this new offering to extend its reach further.
The shift to satellite-based IoT connectivity is particularly beneficial for sectors like energy, logistics, and agriculture, which require reliable data transmission in remote environments. Erik Brenneis, CEO of Vodafone IoT, highlighted that this partnership represents a “new generation of IoT connectivity,” providing truly global coverage. This will enhance Vodafone’s ability to serve clients in corners of the world that are currently underserved by terrestrial networks.
The collaboration comes shortly after a similar partnership between Iridium and Deutsche Telekom, underlining the growing demand for satellite-based IoT services.
