Overview

Iridium Communications Inc. is a publicly traded satellite communications company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2000, it has 500 to 1,000 employees and trades on NASDAQ under the ticker IRDM. The company provides satellite voice, data, IoT connectivity, and Position, Navigation & Timing services to aviation, maritime, government and defense, land mobile, and enterprise customers. In May 2026 it announced plans to acquire Aireon, an aviation safety business, expanding its aviation offering.

At a glance

What Iridium makes

The company offers satellite phones, communication devices, modems, and antennas, along with broadband data through Iridium Certus and holds ISO 9001 certification.

Products and capabilities described on the company's own site include Battery, Electronics (source: iridium.com).

Certifications

Iridium is associated with the following certifications in public sources. Confirm the certified scope for the specific plant producing your part:

• ISO 9001 — iridium.com

Trade and customs footprint

Iridium announced a 2026 agreement to acquire Aireon, and in December 2025 it was awarded a five-year system infrastructure contract worth up to $85.8 million. US customs bill-of-lading records list 574 inbound shipments across 50 foreign suppliers, with top origins including Thailand · China · Hong Kong S.A.R. · Taiwan.

Latest developments

• 2026-10-20 — Iridium Announces Third Quarter 2026 Results - Oct 20, 2026 (iridium.com)

• 2026-09-15 — Rocket Lab Fully Funds Iridium Acquisition, Including Completion of $1.94 Billion ATM | Tue, 09/15/2026 - 06:00 (rocketlabcorp.com)

• 2026-05-14 — Iridium to Acquire Aireon, Advancing its Strategy to Lead the Future of Aviation Safety - May 14, 2026 (iridium.com)

• 2026-01-14 — Iridium Awarded U.S. Missile Defense Agency SHIELD Contract (iridium.com)

• 2025-12-02 — Iridium Awarded 5-Year System Infrastructure Transformation and Hybridization Contract Worth Up to $85.8 Million - Dec 2, 2025 (iridium.com)

• 2025-11-04 — Vodafone IoT Partners with Iridium to Provide its Customers with NTN NB-IoT Connectivity - Nov 4, 2025 (iridium.com)

Company details

Iridium reported approximately 1.7 million subscribers at the end of 2021 and was awarded a U.S. Missile Defense Agency SHIELD contract in January 2026. Iridium was founded in 2000, has an estimated 500-1,000 employees, and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. On the LightSource stability read it is rated "Established & strong": 26 years in operation (founded 2000). Publicly listed; no distress event on record. Holds ISO 9001 certification(s) per public sources.

Frequently asked questions

What does Iridium make?

Iridium Communications Inc. is a publicly traded satellite communications company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, United States. Founded in 2000, it has 500 to 1,000 employees and trades on NASDAQ under the ticker IRDM. The company provides satellite voice, data, IoT connectivity, and Position, Navigation & Timing services to aviation, maritime, government and defense, land mobile, and enterprise customers. In May 2026 it announced plans to acquire Aireon, an aviation safety business, expanding its aviation offering.

Where is Iridium headquartered?

Iridium is headquartered in McLean, Virginia (1676 International Drive, McLean, Virginia, 22102).

When was Iridium founded?

Iridium was founded in 2000.

How big is Iridium?

Iridium has an estimated 500-1,000 employees, with revenue in the 871.7M range.

Is Iridium publicly traded?

Publicly traded (NASDAQ: IRDM). Public financial figures are drawn from its filings.

What certifications does Iridium hold?

Iridium lists ISO 9001 on its website. Confirm the certified scope for the specific plant producing your part.

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Last verified Nov 2026. Is this your company? Request a correction.