Altair Semiconductor Adds Iridium Satellite Connectivity to IoT Chipsets

By combining Altair’s low-power connectivity solutions with Iridium’s 3GPP standards-based non-terrestrial network, the integration aims to bridge the gap between terrestrial cellular limits and global coverage. The ALT1350 platform will focus on remote infrastructure, asset tracking, and smart metering, while the ALT1550 is designed to support AI-powered 5G eRedCap devices, including wearables and smart assistants.

Iridium’s executive vice president Tim Last noted that the move provides manufacturers a streamlined path to develop connected products that function reliably outside traditional cellular zones. Dima Feldman, VP of Product Management at Altair, emphasized that the inclusion of Iridium’s LEO satellite constellation gives customers greater flexibility in hardware deployment. The service utilizes Iridium’s L-band spectrum to ensure that standards-based connectivity remains consistent regardless of location, further expanding the ecosystem of partners adopting the company's NTN Direct technology.