MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today its new suite of aviation products and services, featuring Iridium Certus technology.  This next-generation suite features a broad portfolio of products from four leading avionics manufacturers, which will deliver global broadband connectivity for cockpit and passenger communications.

Scheduled to launch commercial service in 2017, Iridium Certus is the Company's next-generation multi-service communications platform enabled by its new Iridium NEXT satellite constellation. Iridium Certus will deliver higher throughputs, enterprise-grade reliability and global overage at an unprecedented value.  After completion of the Iridium NEXT constellation, Iridium Certus will deliver speeds eventually reaching 1.4 Mbps through some of the smallest and most cost-effective antennas in the industry.    

Iridium® is installed on more than 30,000 business aviation and rotorcraft today.  Iridium Certus will offer a turnkey upgrade path delivering greater performance, utility and value for cockpit and cabin communications through a best-in-class platform designed to support connectivity needs for the next decade.

"Our partners have created a remarkable line of aviation products featuring Iridium Certus technology, and we look forward to giving the industry access to a line of competitive options like never before," said Brian Pemberton, vice president of strategy and aviation line of business at Iridium. "We believe it's now safe to say that everyone in the business and general aviation community will soon have a viable option, with no prerequisites or strings attached, to fulfill their connectivity needs especially where they may not have thought it possible before."  

The Iridium Certus service portfolio will feature a range of data speeds utilizing either high gain antennas (HGA) at 352 Kbps, 704 Kbps or 1.4 Mbps, or low gain antennas (LGA) for speeds of 88 Kbps or 176 Kbps.  These solutions may serve as stand-alone connectivity options or be integrated with Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) solutions offering redundancy and expanded coverage. Further, the HGA speeds will serve as an ideal business aviation cabin connectivity solution for most users.

"The business aviation community is challenged to find cost-effective connectivity.  Iridium Certus will provide a suite of scalable solutions that meets their diverse needs," continued Pemberton. "Whether for business jets, rotorcraft, fractional and charter operators or general aviation, aircraft operators can choose what makes the most sense for them in the most competitive manner possible."

Iridium NEXT, the company's next-generation, global satellite constellation, will replace its existing network of low-earth orbit satellites in what will be one of the largest "tech upgrades" in history. Iridium and SpaceX are partnered for a series of seven launches, deploying ten Iridium NEXT satellites at a time. Iridium NEXT satellite deployment is scheduled to be completed in 2018. For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit 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 and services to be offered over the constellation, including Iridium Certus. 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 development and functionality of Iridium NEXT and related services, potential delays in the Iridium NEXT deployment, and the company's ability to maintain the health, capacity and content of its 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, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 25, 2016, 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.

Press Contact:

Diane Hockenberry
Iridium Communications Inc.
+1 (703) 287-7421
Diane.hockenberry@iridium.com