MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) today announced four industry-leading value-added manufacturing partners that will design, manufacture and distribute products compatible with Iridium Certus broadband, its next-generation broadband service. Iridium Certus will leverage the enhanced capabilities of Iridium NEXT to deliver versatile, enterprise-grade, reliable communications, anywhere and everywhere in the world. This announcement represents another step in Iridium's long-term, strategic plan to team with manufacturers to make available a new set of services and capabilities through the launch of Iridium NEXT, the company's next-generation satellite constellation, which is scheduled to begin launching in 2015.

The manufacturing partners represent some of the top companies in the commercial and defense technology industries, supporting aviation and maritime markets. In a competitive process that included more than 30 candidates, the following companies were selected based on their commitment to innovation, technical capabilities, market reach and investment, and are the only companies currently authorized by Iridium to create Iridium Certus broadband terminals:

• Cobham SATCOM, which develops, manufactures, sells and supports satellite and radio communication terminals and earth stations for land, marine and airborne applications, and whose products and services are used to satisfy the needs of a wide variety of commercial, governmental and recreational applications.
• Rockwell Collins, a pioneer in the design, production and support of innovative communication, aviation electronic and information management solutions for aerospace and defense customers.
• L-3, a prime contractor in aerospace systems and national security solutions, and a leading provider of a broad range of communication and electronic systems and products used on military and commercial platforms.
• ICG (International Communications Group), the industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of next-generation communications systems and solutions for the general aviation and air transport industries.

Iridium will provide Iridium Certus manufacturing partners with the core satellite communications technology, leveraging decades of experience and advanced digital processing and radio frequency (RF) design. Initial products from these manufacturing partners are expected to be commercially available as soon as late 2016, following the availability of prototype transceivers from Iridium in second quarter 2015. Iridium will also assist these partners' development efforts with technical support and testing services, as well as terminal reference designs.

These terminal manufacturers represent an evolution of Iridium's long-term strategy with regards to development and distribution for products. Iridium believes it will stimulate more innovation and diversity of solutions through Iridium NEXT by licensing key manufacturers to create more of the terminal products that are sold through its distribution channels. Additionally, Iridium plans to announce the service providers who will be qualified and approved to sell and distribute Iridium Certus broadband services to the aeronautical, maritime and terrestrial markets later this year.

"We are proud to be teaming up with these companies, which represent the best-in-class in their respective industries," said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. "Iridium remains committed to our wholesale distribution strategy, and with Iridium Certus broadband we will be working in close collaboration with—not in competition to— these manufacturing companies. Together, we will be able to deliver the first broadband products and services that truly meet the business-critical communications needs of individuals and organizations in the air, on land and at sea who need to reliably share data no matter where they are on the globe."

Derived from the Latin word "certus," which means "certain and sure," Iridium Certus will be an enterprise-grade mobile satellite broadband service, with the reliability and versatility to operate as a standalone solution or complementary to VSAT terminals. The service is expected to support a portfolio of partner products with a broad range of data speeds eventually as high as 1.4 megabits per second for a single user terminal after Iridium NEXT deployment is completed. Iridium plans to seek certification of Iridium Certus terminals for maritime and aviation safety services.

The Iridium Certus service is coming at a critical time. Demand for satellite broadband is rapidly expanding, and a recent Northern Sky Research forecast shows wholesale mobile satellite broadband service revenue will increase three-fold over the next decade to over $5 billion annually, of which L-band — the frequency band of Iridium Certus — will constitute one-third.1

"Iridium Certus broadband is well positioned to capitalize on this growing marketplace based on Iridium's unique network, versatile service offering, and best-in-class manufacturing partners," said Bryan Hartin, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Iridium. "With the enhanced throughputs and network capacity afforded by the Iridium NEXT constellation, Iridium will have the full suite of attributes necessary to truly compete in the broadband market, satisfying all the requirements for aviation, maritime and terrestrial solutions.

Like the current Iridium® constellation, the Iridium NEXT system will cover 100 percent of the globe — even polar regions — and its mesh architecture will be less susceptible to inclement weather and interference that impacts other systems. This reliable, global coverage is necessary for critical communications.

For more information on Iridium NEXT, go to www.iridium.com.

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. The company has a major development program underway for its next-generation network — Iridium NEXT. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has based these statements on its current expectations and the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements in this presentation include statements regarding the development and capabilities of the Iridium NEXT constellation, including the expected Iridium NEXT deployment and launch schedule; the development, manufacture, marketing, capabilities and date of availability of products using the Iridium Certus broadband service; and the size of the market for mobile satellite broadband services. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "anticipates," "may," "can," "believes," "expects," "projects," "intends," "likely," "will," "to be" and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding Iridium NEXT development and functionality, potential delays in Iridium NEXT deployment or the development of Iridium Certus broadband products, and the company's ability to maintain the health, capacity and content of its current satellite constellation, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("the SEC") on February 26, 2015, as well as other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There is no assurance that Iridium's expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

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1"Commercial Mobility via Satellite, 10th Edition," Northern SkyResearch, June, 2014.

CONTACT: Press Contact:

         

         Diane Hockenberry

         Iridium Communications Inc.

         +1 (703) 287-7421

         Diane.hockenberry@iridium.com