Iridium Certus 100 beyond-line-of-sight connectivity product

Iridium Certus 100 is a beyond-line-of-sight satellite connectivity product from Iridium Communications, a BLOS link for small, low-power applications that need data and voice over the Iridium Certus network. For uncrewed aircraft and other remote platforms it provides a communications path that does not depend on a ground radio station within range.

The product delivers IP data at speeds up to 88 kbps and supports two high-quality voice lines. For an integrator, 88 kbps is a narrowband figure: it suits telemetry, command and control messages, status reports, position updates, text, and low-volume sensor data, but not live high-definition video or bulk file transfer. Actual throughput depends on the terminal and the service plan chosen, and the voice lines can be used for crew or operator communication at the same time as data.

Iridium describes the service as designed for mobile, fixed and portable operations, with workforce communications, remote monitoring and real-time asset management given as examples. Aviation integrators will find the same properties useful for flight tracking and operational data from aircraft that fly beyond the reach of line-of-sight radios. Iridium also publishes a case study of a fully autonomous environmental mission in the Arctic flown by NASA with an unmanned aircraft using satellite communications.

Integration is through a terminal rather than through the service itself. Iridium lists partner products built for the Certus network, among them the NAL Technologies SkyLink 5100 IoT terminal, the McQ CONNECT satellite hotspot, the Amentum APUS router, the Amentum CST88 satellite transceiver and the Lars Thrane LT-4100 satellite communications system. Each has its own antenna, power input and data interface, so the choice of terminal sets the installation requirements, mass and power draw on the airframe.

The service is a subscription network product and is obtained through an Iridium service provider. No aviation certification is stated for the service on the page consulted; terminal approvals are a matter for the terminal maker.

Typical applications are beyond-line-of-sight command and telemetry backup for large professional drones, data links for remote or polar missions, remote monitoring of assets, and voice and text communication for crews working away from terrestrial coverage.