Iridium, Magnitude Space to Collaborate on Satellite IoT Services

Iridium and smallsat company Magnitude Space (MS) signed a memorandum of understanding to look at collaboration on space-based IoT services through development of low-power global area network (LPGAN) technologies, Iridium said Thursday. Netherlands-based MS is planning a constellation of 18 to 24 smallsats to deliver LPGAN connectivity for agricultural applications, with services to commercially start in Q2, Iridium said. It said the MS MoU points to Iridium interest "in exploring collaborative partnerships with complementary NewSpace players, particularly those in the SmallSat low-power arena." Iridium said that beyond MS, it's working on a variety of other IoT-centric partnerships focused on low-power applications.