Deutsche Telekom partners with Iridium for global IoT connectivity.

Iridium Communications and Deutsche Telekom have partnered to deliver global connectivity through Iridium NTN Direct, a 5G service that provides NB-IoT direct-to-device connectivity. The partnership will integrate Iridium NTN Direct with Deutsche Telekom's terrestrial global IoT network, extending the company's customer reach and keeping users connected worldwide. This collaboration positions Deutsche Telekom at the forefront of standards-based IoT.

Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) and Deutsche Telekom (DTAG) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at delivering global connectivity through Iridium NTN Direct, a 5G service offering NB-IoT direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity. This collaboration will integrate Iridium NTN Direct with Deutsche Telekom's terrestrial global IoT network, extending the latter's customer reach and ensuring seamless global coverage Iridium Begins Integration of NTN Direct with Deutsche ...^[1].

The partnership, announced on September 16, 2025, positions Deutsche Telekom at the forefront of standards-based IoT innovation. Iridium NTN Direct is designed to complement terrestrial networks like Deutsche Telekom, providing seamless global coverage and extending the reach of their own infrastructure Iridium Begins Integration of NTN Direct with Deutsche Telekom^[2]. Deutsche Telekom will gain roaming access to Iridium's forthcoming 3GPP standards-based 5G service, allowing their IoT customers to benefit from broadened global NB-IoT coverage.

The Iridium constellation, the only network delivering truly global coverage using L-band spectrum, will provide reliable connectivity through both routine and extreme weather events. Its LEO orbit offers superior coverage, look angles, and lower latency compared to geostationary systems Iridium Begins Integration of NTN Direct with Deutsche ...^[1]. The service is planned for commercial launch in 2026, supporting use cases such as messaging, tracking, and status updates for IoT, automotive, and industrial devices Iridium Begins Integration of NTN Direct with Deutsche Telekom^[2].

Upon successful integration and testing, Iridium and Deutsche Telekom plan to execute a roaming agreement to support full commercial service launch. This collaboration underscores the power of creating a straightforward, scalable solution that builds on existing technology to enable global service expansion Iridium Begins Integration of NTN Direct with Deutsche ...^[1].