TAMPA, Fla. — Semiconductor giant Qualcomm is scrapping plans to provide the technology Android smartphones would need to directly connect to Iridium’s satellites when they can’t reach a cell tower. Despite successfully developing and demonstrating a chip enabling everyday phones to connect with satellites for SOS, texts, and other low-bandwidth […]
Iridium
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TAMPA, Fla. — Iridium Communications is redoubling efforts to reverse U.S. regulatory approval for Ligado’s terrestrial wireless plans after Canada rejected the network following GPS interference concerns. Ligado had sought similar approval from Canada that it secured from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in 2020 to deploy a 5G network […]
TAMPA, Fla. —Iridium unveiled chip maker Qualcomm Jan. 5 as the partner behind plans to connect smartphones to its satellite constellation this year. U.S.-based Qualcomm has developed a product called Snapdragon Satellite, which it said can be added to Android smartphones and other devices to support two-way communications via Iridium […]
TAMPA, Fla. — Iridium has entered into a service provider agreement with a company widely expected to be Samsung to connect its satellites to smartphones. The U.S.-based satellite operator said it is due to be paid royalties, development and network usage fees from the deal in a Dec. 30 regulatory […]
TAMPA, Fla. — Initial direct-to-smartphone services from Iridium’s constellation will support occasional communications for emergencies and other unforeseen needs in remote areas worldwide, CEO Matt Desch said Oct. 20. Similar to rival low Earth orbit (LEO) operator Globalstar’s plan to bring basic SOS connectivity to the iPhone 14 next month, […]
The report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was mandated by Congress in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act WASHINGTON — An independent review of Ligado’s planned deployment of a terrestrial wireless network concluded that it will likely interfere with some GPS signals and with space-based communications […]
WASHINGTON — Iridium will launch five of its remaining six ground spare satellites on a Falcon 9 rideshare mission in 2023, the company announced Sept. 8. Iridium said it selected SpaceX for the launch of the five satellites, sharing a launch with other, unnamed payloads. The launch is scheduled for […]
TAMPA, Fla. — Satellite operator Iridium Communications said July 26 it has entered into a development agreement to enable its technology in smartphones. The operator said the deal with the unnamed company is “contingent upon the successful development of the technology,” as well as a service provider agreement that it […]