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Module 1 - Network

Iridium

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15 views11 pages

Module 1 - Network

Iridium

Uploaded by

Zaki Citizen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Iridium GMDSS

Maritime Academy Training Pack


Module One: The Iridium Network

V1.0
Updated September 2023
Legal Disclosures
Statements made in this Presentation are not warranties, and Iridium expressly disclaims all
warranties, warranties of merchantability and warranties of fitness for a particular
purpose, except as expressly set forth in the relevant Iridium Limited Warranty and the
Iridium Product Sales Terms and Conditions.
The views and opinions expressed in this Presentation are solely those of the presenter and
do not necessarily represent those of Iridium which makes no warranty as to accuracy or
completeness of the information provided or the views or opinions presented. The
information in this Presentation is subject to change without notice.
Read and understand the Iridium User Manual and the safety warnings and information
contained in that Manual before using any Iridium product.
Iridium® is a registered mark of Iridium Satellite LLC and its affiliates. All other registered
marks, trademarks, service marks and logos are property of their respective holders.
Information is subject to change without notice.

2 Module One: The Iridium Network


Training Overview & Usage Guide
• Adoption of Iridium® GMDSS is rapidly
increasing among Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS) class vessels
• This training pack is designed to deliver a
complete overview of Iridium GMDSS &
Iridium Certus® services to maritime colleges
and schools
• Instructors are encouraged to integrate the
text and media of this training pack into their
respective course material
• Integration of this training pack into a
maritime course will ensure that the next
generation of seafarers have knowledge of
Iridium GMDSS services

3 Module One: The Iridium Network


Module One: The Iridium Network

• Iridium Introduction

• The Iridium Satellite Constellation

• Iridium Compared to Other Satellite Networks

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) & GEO (Geostationary) Comparisons

• Unique Attributes of a LEO Network Combined with L-band Frequency

• Coverage

4 Module One: The Iridium Network


Introduction to Iridium
Iridium is a global satellite communications company that provides access to voice and data
services anywhere on Earth. With its constellation of satellites, the Iridium network connects people
and devices in the world’s most remote places — and close to home.

2 Million+
450+ Technology
Global
Partners
Subscribers
Iridium Compared to Other Satellite Networks
• Iridium operates a LEO network
• 66 satellites orbit approximately 780 km
above Earth; 14 in-orbit spares provide
resiliency LEO
• The constellation constantly orbits the 780 km
above Earth
Earth, providing global coverage
(including polar regions)
• There are many GEO satellites
• GEO satellites orbit the equator at
a distance of ~36,000 km
• The position of the satellites remains
fixed on the same point on Earth
• Inmarsat has 15 GEO satellites
• Starlink & OneWeb operate LEO networks
• Starlink has thousands of satellites
in orbit 480 km above Earth GEO
• OneWeb has hundreds of satellites 36,000 km above
Earth
in orbit 1,200 km above Earth

6 Module One: The Iridium Network


LEO vs GEO
• LEO Advantages
• Iridium’s LEO constellation orbits Earth above the vessel;
there is always at least one satellite in view of the terminal
• GEO Blockages
• GEO constellations generally cover a large part of Earth's
surface, but cannot cover polar areas
⁃ Because the satellite is always at a specific position
relative to terminal, transmissions between a vessel
and GEO satellites can be easily blocked by vessel’s
funnel, masts or cranes
• L-band Advantages
• L-band (over which Iridium operates) provides dependable
connectivity even in adverse weather conditions
• Ku/Ka-band Weather Resilience
• Higher frequencies like Ka & Ku band are easily affected by
wet weather (rain, snow, fog), potentially causing signal loss

7 Module One: The Iridium Network


The Iridium Satellite Constellation
• Each of the 66 satellites orbits Earth, crossing
at the poles, providing an always-present
network globally
• Each satellite has “beams” that cover Earth’s
surface below the satellite
• The constellation downlinks the network’s voice
and data traffic to Iridium gateways around the
world
• The constellation uses crosslinks to transfer
voice and data traffic between the Iridium
terminal and ground station, reducing the need
for local terrestrial connections
• Iridium’s crosslinks provide reliable
connectivity for terminals anywhere on Earth
• Crosslinks allow ground traffic through
potentially one (or many) ground stations,
meaning each satellite does not have to be
in view of a ground station to connect to
send voice and data traffic back to earth

8 Module One: The Iridium Network


Coverage Comparison

• Iridium’s LEO network provides full global • Inmarsat’s GEO satellites are in a fixed
coverage, allowing for operation anywhere position, each illuminating a portion of
on Earth Earth (Ocean Region)
• Multiple satellites can be in view at once, • Generally, only one operational satellite is in
significantly reducing blockage risk view at a time in a fixed position,
significantly increasing blockage risk
9 Module One: The Iridium Network
What is Iridium Certus?
A flexible, award-winning platform with solutions that
scale to meet size, weight, and power requirements.
With speed capabilities ranging up to 704 Kbps, Iridium Certus
offers the highest speed L-band connectivity and only truly global
mobile satellite service on the market. Iridium Certus is a flexible,
evolving platform that provides a combination of devices and
service speeds to match customer needs.
High-quality services anywhere in the world:
• IP Data
• High Quality Voice
• Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT)
• Prepaid Voice
• Safety Services
• Secondary Data Flow

10 Module One: The Iridium Network


Thank You!

@IridiumComm @MyIridium @Iridium @IridiumComm

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