Iridium Successfully Tests World's First Satellite Network Service with NTN Direct
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 21 2026
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Technical Milestone: Iridium has successfully completed two-way message transmission testing for its NTN Direct service, marking a significant advancement ahead of its planned commercial launch in 2026, which is expected to greatly enhance global mobile network operators' coverage capabilities.
- Global Coverage Capability: The service aims to deliver 100% global coverage by leveraging the existing satellite constellation, reducing technical and commercial barriers, thereby accelerating market rollout and creating new revenue opportunities for partners.
- Partner Integration: Iridium's collaboration with Nordic Semiconductor enables the low-power nRF9151 module to support NB-IoT standards, facilitating the widespread application of globally connected devices and is anticipated to drive rapid growth in the IoT market.
- Market Opportunities: The NTN Direct service provides mobile network operators with opportunities to eliminate coverage gaps and enhance subscriber retention, while offering chipset manufacturers a unified hardware platform that supports global connectivity, thus advancing industry standardization.
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Analyst Views on IRDM
Wall Street analysts forecast IRDM stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for IRDM is 25.83 USD with a low forecast of 16.00 USD and a high forecast of 37.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
7 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 21.190
Low
16.00
Averages
25.83
High
37.00
Current: 21.190
Low
16.00
Averages
25.83
High
37.00
About IRDM
Iridium Communications Inc. operates the mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. The Company enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, it delivers a portfolio of solutions for markets that require global communications. Its principal vertical lines of business include land mobile, maritime, aviation, IoT, hosted payloads and other data services, which includes navigation and timing (PNT), and the United States government. Its products include Iridium 9555, Iridium Extreme satellite phones, Iridium Extreme PTT, Iridium GO! Iridium GO!, and others. It provides voice and data communications services to businesses, the United States and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and consumers via its satellite network, which has an architecture of 66 operational satellites with in-orbit spares and related ground infrastructure.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Iridium Communications (IRDM) Successfully Tests NTN Direct Network, Shares Up 11.24%
- Stock Surge: Iridium Communications' shares rose 11.24% on Thursday, closing at $21.82 with a market cap of $2.1 billion, reflecting strong market confidence in its new technology.
- Successful Technology Test: The company successfully tested its NTN Direct network, achieving two-way message transmission via its low-Earth orbit satellite, positioning it as a potential pioneer in wireless communication for IoT devices globally.
- Strategic Partnership Opportunities: Iridium plans to collaborate with telecom companies like T-Mobile to extend services beyond traditional land-based networks, thereby eliminating coverage gaps and enhancing competitive positioning.
- Commercial Launch Plans: Iridium is targeting a commercial launch later this year, with CEO Matt Desch emphasizing that the NTN Direct network is operational and undergoing rigorous testing to meet elite performance standards.
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Iridium Communications Achieves Successful 5G NTN Direct Test, Targeting 2026 Launch
- Successful Test: Iridium Communications has successfully tested its NTN Direct network, achieving two-way message transmission over its low-Earth orbit satellite network, marking significant progress towards the commercial launch of its 5G services in 2026, thereby enhancing its competitive edge in the satellite communications market.
- Stock Surge: Following the announcement of the test results, Iridium's stock price rose by over 11%, reflecting positive market sentiment regarding its future commercial potential and attracting interest from telecom giants like T-Mobile, which could lead to strategic partnerships.
- Market Demand: Iridium plans to collaborate with telecommunications companies to extend services beyond traditional network coverage, addressing the communication needs of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, thus opening new market opportunities and strengthening its position in the global communications landscape.
- CEO Statement: CEO Matt Desch emphasized that Iridium's network is designed to complement rather than compete with mobile network operators and chipset makers, a strategic positioning that will help attract more partners and drive future growth for the company.
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