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Iridium System Overview

The Iridium system has complete global coverage, reaching 100% latitudes of the earth, including all oceans, airways and Polar Regions. Iridium delivers satellite communications access to and from remote areas where no other form of communications is available and/or where emergency contingency programs are necessary in threat of natural and manmade disasters.

Iridium operates out of two main facilities: the Satellite Network Operations Center in Leesburg, Virginia and the Gateway Facilities in Tempe, Arizona. However, the Department of Defense traffic operates through its own gateway in Oahu, Hawaii.

The Iridium system comprises three principal components: the satellite network, the ground network, and the Iridium satellite phone or unit. The design of the Iridium network allows voice and data to be routed virtually anywhere in the world. Voice and data calls are relayed from one satellite to another until they reach the satellite above the Iridium handset and the signal is relayed back to Earth.

The 66 active satellites circumnavigate the earth in 6 polar orbits at all times in the Iridium constellation. There are 48 spot beams per satellite. The constellation boasts 11 orbital spare satellites. The 11 additional satellites orbit ready to replace any unserviceable satellite. Life expectancy of the entire constellation system is projected to at least 2014.

This system uses cross-link technology, a unique technology that provides redundancy by allowing satellites to talk to each other. Therefore, when placing an Iridium-to-Iridium call, a user never depends on landlines - ideal for emergency management situations when infrastructures are not reliable. With optimal conditions (line of sight), Iridium has 99.8% call completion.

Iridium Satellite Constellation Quick Facts:

Iridium Space Segment

  
  • Iridium Satellites
    		•     66 Active
      
  • Orbital Planes
    		•     6
      
  • Orbital Height
    		•     485 Miles (780 km)
      
  • Inclination of Orbital Planes
    		•     86.4 Degrees
      
  • Orbital Period
    		•     100 Minutes, 28 Sec
      
  • Satellite Weight
    		•     1500 Lbs (689 kg)
      
  • Spot Beams
    		•     48 per Satellite (30 miles diameter per beam)
      
  • Link Margin
    		•     16 Decibels (average)
      
  • Satellite Lifetime
    		•     7-9 Years

    Frequency Bands

      
  • Telephone and Messaging
    		•     1616-1626.5 MHz, L-band
      
  • Service Links Intersatellite
    		•     23.18-23.38 GHz, Ka-band
      
  • Ground Segment Links
      
  • Downlinks
    		•     19.4-19.6 GHz, Ka-band
      
  • Uplinks
    		•     29.1-29.3 GHz, Ka-band

    • Switching Equipment

      
  • Ground-based Digital Switches
    		•     Siemens GSM-D900

    Signaling

      
  • Gateway to International
    		•     PCM Transmission and SS7-ISUP or MFCR2
      
  • Iridium Telephone
    		•     Frequency Division/ Time Division (FDMA/TDMA)

    Transmission Rates

      
  • Digital Voice and Data
    		•     2.4 Kilobits per second

    Launch

      
  • Boeing Space Systems (Delta II)
    		•     Five Iridium satellites per launch
      
  • Khrunichev (Proton)
    		•     Seven Iridium satellites per launch
      
  • China Great Wall (Long March 2C)
    		•     Two Iridium satellites per launch




    Example of how a call is routed from an Iridium satellite telephone to a wireless cell phone user.
     
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