Iridium has agreed a deal with Deutsche Telekom to integrate its Iridium NTN Direct service with Deutsche Telekom’s mobile network, offering standards-based direct-to-device connectivity for assets outside the range of terrestrial coverage.
The partnership will allow Deutsche Telekom customers to roam onto the Iridium LEO satellite constellation once the service launches commercially in 2026, supporting use cases including cargo tracking, remote monitoring of vessels and containers, and IoT connectivity for offshore and port assets.
The system is designed to complement terrestrial 5G infrastructure, enabling continuous links for sensors, vehicles and industrial equipment across both land and sea.
Iridium NTN Direct uses 3GPP-standardised narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) technology to provide pole-to-pole coverage. Potential applications could include real-time status updates for cargo movements, equipment health monitoring on ships, and tracking of containers and port machinery.
“Iridium NTN Direct is designed to complement terrestrial networks like Deutsche Telekom and provide seamless global coverage, extending the reach of their own infrastructure,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium.
“This partnership underscores the power of creating a straightforward, scalable solution that builds on existing technology to enable global service expansion.”
The companies plan to complete integration and testing before executing a roaming agreement to support full commercial launch.
