Iridium and Deutsche Telekom Partner on NTN Integration
Iridium Communications has announced a partnership with Deutsche Telekom (DTAG) to integrate its forthcoming Iridium NTN Direct service with DT’s global IoT network. The collaboration will enable customers to roam seamlessly between Deutsche Telekom’s terrestrial infrastructure and Iridium’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, extending IoT coverage worldwide.
The service, built on 3GPP standards for 5G NB-IoT, is designed to support a broad set of use cases from cargo logistics and smart agriculture to industrial monitoring and emergency response, especially in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. Deutsche Telekom is among the first mobile network operators to begin integrating the service, positioning it at the forefront of standards-based satellite IoT.
Planned for commercial launch in 2026, Iridium NTN Direct will leverage Iridium’s global L-band spectrum and reliable LEO coverage to deliver robust performance even under extreme weather conditions. The roaming agreement, once finalized, will allow Deutsche Telekom customers to connect devices across both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks with minimal complexity.