Iridium’s positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) chip is now commercially available, with the satellite operator reporting more than 150 organizations have expressed interest in the chip.
First announced in October, the Iridium PNT ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) allows Iridium’s PNT capabilities to be integrated into electronic devices for GPS and GNSS resilience. It is an 8 by 8 millimeters chip that delivers cryptographically secure timing and location data from the Iridium satellite network through one-way signal bursts. Iridium said it is powerful enough to work inside structures and in contested environments.
Mission-critical communications company Solace Communications is integrating the Iridium PNT ASIC s Vector family of PNT products, along with GNSS and inertial sensing for resilient PNT.
Iridium gave select partners early access to the product for integration and testing through a beta program. The company said it can be used as a standalone Iridium PNT receiver or hybrid Iridium and GNSS solution.
“The market response to the Iridium PNT ASIC has reinforced what we’re hearing from customers around the world: assured PNT is becoming an essential capability across critical industries,” said Dr. Michael O’Connor, executive vice president, PNT, Iridium. “With commercial availability, we’re enabling manufacturers to integrate trusted timing and location capabilities into smaller, more efficient designs, making assured PNT accessible to more applications than ever before.”
Iridium is currently going through a deal to be acquired by Rocket Lab.
