UPDATE: Mavenir has been officially selected by Iridium Communications Inc. to deploy a revolutionary Core Network for its Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN), a game-changer for global satellite-based IoT services. This urgent partnership was announced from Richardson, Texas, just moments ago on September 23, 2025.
This collaboration aims to accelerate Iridium’s NTN Direct services, setting the stage for seamless integration of satellite-terrestrial NB-IoT capabilities. Mavenir’s cutting-edge, cloud-native Converged Packet Core solution will be hosted within Iridium’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud environment, enabling a robust infrastructure to support Direct-to-Device (D2D) services.
Why This Matters NOW: As the demand for reliable connectivity surges, this strategic move positions Iridium at the forefront of the satellite communications industry. Customers, including mobile network operators and IoT device manufacturers, will soon benefit from enhanced connectivity solutions that promise reliability and global reach.
Iridium’s President of Core Networks, Ashok Khuntia, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “This collaboration with Iridium is a strategic milestone in Mavenir’s mission to enable seamless connectivity across terrestrial and non-terrestrial domains.” He added that the deployment of their cloud-native core on AWS demonstrates Mavenir’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of satellite-driven networks.
The advanced solution encompasses vital core network functions, including Converged Session Management, Policy Control, and Subscriber Management, ensuring high availability and geo-redundancy across multiple AWS regions. This sophisticated infrastructure is designed to support the increasing traffic demands of IoT devices and will lay the groundwork for future upgrades toward 5G NR capabilities.
Iridium’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tim Last, stated, “As we prepare to launch Iridium NTN Direct, our partnership with Mavenir will help ensure a strong foundation for the service.” He affirmed that this service will cater to both IoT and D2D needs, providing a truly global and reliable solution for customers worldwide.
This announcement marks a significant milestone in Mavenir’s growing portfolio within the non-terrestrial network sector, showcasing its ability to deliver standard-compliant packet core solutions optimized for cloud deployment. The integration will also allow easy compatibility with Iridium’s existing provisioning and billing systems.
What’s Next? As Iridium gears up for the launch of NTN Direct, industry observers will be closely monitoring developments. The initial rollout will provide a pathway for smooth migration to D2D connectivity, ensuring minimal downtime for users. This partnership not only highlights the urgent need for reliable satellite communication but also reflects the future of global connectivity.
For more information on Iridium NTN Direct, visit: www.iridium.com/ntn-direct/. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
