McLean – October 14, 2026 -- Altair Semiconductor is integrating Iridium NTN Direct into its ALT1350 and next-generation ALT1550 IoT chipset platforms, so device makers can add satellite connectivity without a separate satellite modem, Iridium Communications (Nasdaq: IRDM) announced.
Single chipset combines terrestrial cellular and Iridium satellite links
Device manufacturers, module makers and mobile network operators (MNOs) get terrestrial cellular IoT and Iridium satellite connectivity on one chip. Iridium NTN Direct is a 3GPP standards-based non-terrestrial network (NTN) service. It runs on Iridium's low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation and globally coordinated L-band spectrum, and supports NB-IoT and direct-to-device (D2D) applications on compatible chipsets.
ALT1350 targets asset tracking and utilities; ALT1550 targets AI wearables
The ultra-low-power ALT1350 (LTE-M/NB-IoT) covers asset tracking, logistics, smart metering and utilities, agriculture, vehicle telematics, industrial monitoring and remote infrastructure. The 5G eRedCap ALT1550 extends the capability to AI-powered devices such as smart glasses, AI assistants and other wearables.
Iridium executive vice president Tim Last said the integration will enable applications that need "reliable, low-power connectivity beyond the limits of terrestrial networks." Dima Feldman, VP Product Management and Marketing at Altair, said the move gives customers more flexibility in how and where their devices connect.
Altair joins a growing Iridium NTN Direct partner ecosystem
Chipmakers, module manufacturers, OEMs, device makers and IoT developers are already bringing the service to market, according to Iridium. The release does not name other partners or give commercial terms. Iridium's forward-looking statements list the timing of commercial availability of Iridium NTN Direct among the uncertainties.