Cellular chipsets combine satellite and mobile network connectivity to connect IoT devices in remote areas for tracking, monitoring, and communication.
Altair Semiconductor is integrating Iridium NTN Direct satellite connectivity into its ALT1350 and next-generation ALT1550 Internet of Things (IoT) chipsets. The integration will let device manufacturers support terrestrial cellular and satellite connectivity through a single chipset, extending communication beyond terrestrial network coverage without a separate satellite modem.
Iridium NTN Direct uses Iridium’s operational low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation and globally coordinated L-band spectrum to extend standards-based connectivity beyond terrestrial networks. The service is designed to support narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and direct-to-device (D2D) applications through compatible chipsets based on 3GPP standards. It provides mobile network operators (MNOs), chipset manufacturers and device makers with a way to extend connectivity through the Iridium satellite network.
The integration combines Altair’s low-power cellular IoT chipset technology with Iridium’s 3GPP standards-based non-terrestrial network (NTN) service. It offers device manufacturers, module makers and MNOs another option for developing connected devices that need communication beyond terrestrial cellular coverage.
The ultra-low-power ALT1350 chipset can support applications such as asset tracking, logistics, smart metering, utilities, agriculture, vehicle telematics, industrial monitoring and remote infrastructure. The ALT1550 extends these capabilities to emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-powered 5G enhanced Reduced Capability (eRedCap) devices, including smart glasses, AI assistants and other wearables that require connectivity across different locations.
By integrating satellite connectivity into cellular IoT chipsets, the technology aims to extend communication to areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable or have limited coverage, without requiring a separate satellite modem.
“Adding Iridium NTN Direct to our ultra-low-power LTE-M/NB-IoT ALT1350 and 5G eRedCap ALT1550 chipsets reflects our commitment to giving customers greater flexibility in how and where their IoT devices connect,” said Dima Feldman, VP Product Management and Marketing, Altair Semiconductor. “With Iridium’s truly global LEO satellite connectivity alongside terrestrial cellular, device manufacturers can more easily develop solutions that will reliably work anywhere they’re deployed.”
