Combining satellite, LTE-M cellular, and multi-GNSS support in a compact design, the new module enables reliable IoT connectivity in remote and infrastructure-limited environments.
Iridium has introduced the Iridium 9604 module and development kit, a compact hybrid communication solution designed to simplify IoT deployments requiring uninterrupted connectivity beyond terrestrial cellular coverage. Integrating satellite, LTE-M cellular, and multi-GNSS positioning into a single module, it targets industrial, transportation, utilities, maritime, mobility, infrastructure, and remote monitoring applications.
The integrated design replaces separate satellite, cellular, and positioning components with a single solution, helping reduce board space by up to 60% while simplifying RF routing, power architecture, firmware development, and overall device design.
Some of the key features include:
- Hybrid satellite and LTE-M (Cat-M1) connectivity
- Integrated multi-GNSS positioning
- GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou support
- Global L-band satellite network compatibility
- Compact 16 × 26 × 2.4mm form factor
- Built on the u-blox SARA-R5 platform
- Development kit with Arduino-based testing environment
- Pre-provisioned module for faster setup
The module combines Short Burst Data (SBD) satellite communication, LTE-M cellular connectivity, and GNSS positioning in a single compact package, enabling continuous asset tracking and monitoring even in areas without terrestrial network coverage.
According to the manufacturer, the integrated architecture simplifies device development, lowers system cost, and accelerates deployment while providing reliable connectivity for location-aware IoT applications. The accompanying development kit comes pre-configured for rapid evaluation and prototyping using an Arduino-based environment.
