When was Iridium Communications founded?

Iridium Communications was founded in 2001 and raised its 1st funding round 19 years after it was founded.

Where is Iridium Communications located?

Iridium Communications is headquartered in Mclean, United States. It is registered at Tempe, Arizona.

Who is the current CEO of Iridium Communications?

Matthew J Desch of Iridium Communications.

How many employees does Iridium Communications have?

As of Jan 12, 2026, the latest employee count at Iridium Communications is 1037.

Is Iridium Communications a funded company?

Iridium Communications is a funded company, having raised a total of $***** in its 1st and only funding round, a Grant (prize money) round on Jan 01, 2020.

When was the latest funding round of Iridium Communications?

Iridium Communications' latest funding was a $***** Grant (prize money) round on Jan 01, 2020, with participation from 1 investor.

What is the annual revenue of Iridium Communications?

Annual revenue of Iridium Communications is between $500M and $1B as on Dec 31, 2024

Where does Iridium Communications rank among its competitors?

Iridium Communications ranks 8th amongst 264 active competitors, of which 38 are funded. It stands 9th in terms of total funding among its competitors. The most recent competitor to raise funding was Astranis, which secured an undisclosed amount in May, 2026.

Who are the top competitors of Iridium Communications?

Iridium Communications' top competitors include Inmarsat, Skylo and SES Satellites. Among them, Astranis secured the most recent funding round in May, 2026.

Iridium Communications - 2026 Company Profile, Team, Funding, Competitors & Financials

Iridium Communications is a public company based in Mclean (United States), founded in 2001. It operates as a Network of satellite communications providing voice, data, and messaging services. Iridium Communications has raised an undisclosed amount in funding. The company has 264 active competitors, including 38 funded and 46 that have exited. Its top competitors include companies like Inmarsat, Skylo and SES Satellites.

Company Details

Network of satellite communications providing voice, data, and messaging services. It offers connectivity for various applications, including safety, security, and critical communications. The network supports governments, industries, and innovators requiring dependable connectivity. It provides solutions for aviation safety, maritime emergency systems, and defense communications.

Website: www.iridium.com/
Social
Email ID: *****@iridium.com
Phone Number: +1 **********
Registered Address: Tempe, Arizona

Key Metrics

Founded Year

2001

Location

Mclean, United States

Stage

Public

Latest Funding Round

Grant (prize money), Jan 01, 2020, $*****

Investors

Herald Investment Management & 2 more

Ranked

8^th among 264 active competitors

Annual Revenue

$500M - $1B as on Dec 31, 2024

Employee Count

1,037 as on Jan 12, 2026

Investment & Acquisitions

Aireon & 3 more

Similar Companies

Inmarsat & 231 more

Exit Details

Public

View Iridium Communications' full profile

Iridium Communications is associated with 5 legal entities given below:

Legal Entity Name	Date of Incorporation	Revenue	Latest Employee Count	Documents
Iridium Satellite Llc CIN: 542000237 , United States, Active	Dec 31, 2000	-	1015 (As on Dec 31, 2024)	-
IRIDIUM CIN: 40103513281 , Latvia, Deadpooled	Feb 17, 2012	€0 - €1M (As on Dec 31, 2014)	15 (As on Dec 31, 2014)	-
IRIDIUM COMMUNICATIONS INC. CIN: 1418819 , United States, Active	Nov 01, 2007	$500M - $1B (As on Dec 31, 2025)	873 (As on Dec 31, 2024)	-
Iridium Satellite LLC CIN: 0728.712.597 , Belgium, Active	Jan 01, 2016	-	-	-
IRIDIUM COMMUNICATIONS INC. CIN: 20111620203 , United States, Active	Nov 07, 2011	$500M - $1B (As on Dec 31, 2024)	-	-

Iridium Communications got listed on Sep 24, 2009.

Click here to take a look at Iridium Communications's IPO in detail

Iridium Communications has raised funding over 1 round. Its latest funding round was a Grant (prize money) round on Jan 01, 2020 for $*****. 1 investor participated in its latest round. Iridium Communications has 3 institutional investors.

Here is the list of recent funding rounds of Iridium Communications:

Date of Funding	Funding Amount	Round Name	Post-Money Valuation	Revenue Multiple	Lead Investors	Other Investors
Jan 01, 2020	3199118	Grant (prize money)	7384413	2987347	1479241	8614796

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Iridium Communications' employee count trend

Iridium Communications has 1,037 employees as of Jan 26. Here is Iridium Communications's employee count trend over the years:

Employee count trend for Iridium Communications

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Top competitors of Iridium Communications include Inmarsat, Skylo and SES Satellites. Here is the list of Top 10 competitors of Iridium Communications, ranked by Tracxn score:

Rank	Company Details	Short Description	Total Funding	Investors	Tracxn Score
1st	Inmarsat 1979, London (United Kingdom), Acquired	Developer of satellite-based communication services	-	EchoStar, UBS & 3 others	70/100
2nd	Skylo 2017, San Mateo (United States), Series C	Provider of satellite connectivity for sensor data, SMS, and voice calls	$183M	Innovation Endeavors, DCM Ventures & 9 others	70/100
3rd	SES Satellites 1985, Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Public	Provider of satellite-based communication services	-	BCEE, Greyrock Investments & 23 others	67/100
4th	Thuraya 1997, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Acquired	Provider of mobile satellite communication solutions	$291M	ANZ, Dubai Investments & 2 others	66/100
5th	Astranis 2015, San Francisco (United States), Series E	Developer of satellite-based communication services	$1.05B	Andreessen Horowitz, Venrock & 60 others	66/100
6th	ALL.SPACE 2013, Reading (United Kingdom), Acquired	Provider of satellite antenna and other telecom end user equipments	$202M	Boka, SES Satellites & 17 others	66/100
7th	Telesat 1962, Ottawa (Canada), Public	Provider of data, wireless internet, and satellite communication services	$650M	Canadian Space Agency, Quebec	65/100
8th	Iridium Communications 2001, Mclean (United States), Public	Network of satellite communications providing voice, data, and messaging services	-	Herald Investment Management, Disruption Venture Partners ... & 1 others	63/100
9th	Frequentis 1947, Vienna (Austria), Public	Provider of communication and information systems for safety-critical applications	-	B&C Group, Europa	63/100
10th	AnySignal 2022, Los Angeles (United States), Series A	Communication hardware for military applications	$35.7M	Upfront Ventures, BlueYard & 6 others	62/100

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Iridium Communications has made 2 investments in companies including DDK Positioning and Satelles. Iridium Communications has also acquired 2 companies including Aireon and Satelles.

Here is the list of investments & acquisitions:

Date of Investment/Acquisition	Type	Company Name	Founded Year	Location
May 14, 2026	Acquisition	Aireon	2012	Mclean (United States)
Mar 04, 2024	Acquisition	Satelles	2008	Reston (United States)
May 24, 2021	Investments	DDK Positioning	2016	Aberdeen (United Kingdom)

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Here is the latest report on Iridium Communications's sector:

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New Edition of Internet of Things - Feed Report - Sector Report

Edition: March, 2026 (83 Pages)

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Media has covered Iridium Communications for a total of 76 events in the last 1 year, 46 of them have been about company updates and 11 about partnerships.