Iridium demonstrates satellite voice messaging with Toyota and Deutsche Telekom

Iridium Communications, Deutsche Telekom IoT, and Toyota have successfully demonstrated voice messaging over satellite using Iridium NTN Direct. During a demonstration at Telekom Satellite Day 2026, a Toyota vehicle equipped with a Nordic Semiconductor development board and a Deutsche Telekom IoT SIM transmitted a voice message via Iridium’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This milestone follows a technical integration and a global roaming agreement between Iridium and Deutsche Telekom IoT, allowing compatible NB-IoT devices to roam between terrestrial networks and satellites.

In a separate development, Iridium has entered a strategic partnership with SkyWave to advance industrial IoT. The collaboration aims to assist heavy equipment manufacturers by combining Iridium’s LEO satellite network and Short Burst Data (SBD) services with SkyWave’s multi-network management and OGx IoT platform. This integrated solution is designed to provide seamless connectivity across satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi networks, improving remote monitoring and uptime for assets operating in disconnected or remote locations.