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Two LEO satellite constellations built for different jobs. Iridium provides low-bandwidth, global connectivity (including both poles) for voice, IoT and safety services. Starlink provides broadband internet to fixed and mobile users. Starlink's Direct to Cell service is where the two now overlap.
| Metric | Iridium | Starlink |
|---|---|---|
| Current Network[3,4] | Iridium NEXT satellites, launched Jan 2017 to Jan 2019 | Starlink, SpaceX's Connectivity segment |
| Headquarters[1,3] | McLean, VA | Starbase, TX (SpaceX) |
| Public / Private[2,3] | Public (Nasdaq: IRDM); Rocket Lab agreed to acquire Iridium (stockholders approved Sep 24, 2026; closing expected mid-2027) | Part of SpaceX, public since its June 2026 IPO (Nasdaq: SPCX) |
| Revenue[1,3] | $871.7M (FY2025) | SpaceX Connectivity segment: $7.55B in the first half of 2026 ($4.29B in Q2 2026) |
| Market Cap / Valuation | ~$5.0B | Part of SpaceX (SpaceX market cap ~$1.90T) |
| Constellation Size[1,3] | 66 operational satellites plus in-orbit spares | Over 10,200 Starlink broadband and mobile satellites (Q2 2026 report) |
| Orbit[1,3] | About 778 km, six near-polar planes | Low Earth orbit |
| Data Speed (User)[1] | Legacy 2.4 Kbps narrowband up to 704 Kbps (Iridium Certus) | Broadband |
| User Terminals[1,5] | Handsets, small IoT modems, vehicle, ship and aircraft terminals; L-band allows smaller antennas | Starlink dishes; standard phones on Direct to Cell (T-Mobile T-Satellite) |
| Coverage[1,3] | Global, including the poles; one of two networks approved for GMDSS maritime distress service | Service in 167 countries, territories and other markets (Q2 2026) |
| Direct-to-Phone[1,5] | Iridium satellite phones; Iridium NTN Direct (standards-based D2D) expected to launch in 2026 | Direct to Cell texting with standard phones via T-Mobile's T-Satellite (public launch July 2025) |
| Government / Military[1,3] | EMSS contract with the U.S. government: $738.5M over seven years (Sep 2019 to Sep 2026), with a six-month extension option; about 29% of 2025 revenue from the U.S. government | Starshield government business; enterprise and government revenue reported within Connectivity |
| Subscribers[1,3] | About 2,537,000 billable subscribers (Dec 31, 2025) | 12.0 million Starlink subscribers (June 30, 2026; excludes managed enterprise and government contracts) |
Figures as of Nov 11, 2026 (auto-updated daily from company profiles). Information only, not investment advice. Full disclaimer
Iridium's network has 66 operational satellites in six near-polar planes at about 778 km, linked by crosslinks so traffic can be routed in space. Iridium says its L-band spectrum is more resistant to weather interference than the Ka- and Ku-band spectrum used by many broadband operators, and lets devices use smaller antennas. Iridium is one of only two networks approved to provide Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) services. The Iridium NEXT satellites, launched between January 2017 and January 2019, support Iridium Certus (up to 704 Kbps) and Short Burst Data (SBD) for IoT.[1,4]
Starlink is built for a different problem: broadband internet at scale. SpaceX reported over 10,200 Starlink broadband and mobile satellites in low Earth orbit, 12.0 million Starlink subscribers at June 30, 2026, and $7.55 billion of Connectivity segment revenue in the first half of 2026. SpaceX completed its initial public offering in June 2026 (Nasdaq: SPCX). Through T-Mobile's T-Satellite service, launched to the public in July 2025, standard smartphones can text over Starlink's Direct to Cell satellites, which is where Starlink meets Iridium's handheld market.[3,5]
IoT is one of Iridium's main business lines. Its SBD transceivers (the 9602 and 9603) and the newer Iridium Certus 9770 and 9704 are built into tracking and telematics products, including equipment from heavy-machinery makers such as Caterpillar and Komatsu, and Iridium is developing NTN Direct, a standards-based IoT and direct-to-device service it expects to launch in 2026.[1]
Starlink's broadband dishes suit data-heavy uses such as video and rich telemetry, while Iridium's small L-band modems suit low-data tracking where size and power matter. The comparison above shows the difference in data speed.
Both companies sell to governments. Iridium's Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) contract, managed by the U.S. Space Force, was signed in September 2019 at $738.5 million over seven years, ending in September 2026 with one six-month extension option; it covers unlimited airtime for U.S. Department of War and other federal subscribers, and the U.S. government provided about 29% of Iridium's 2025 revenue. SpaceX reports a Starshield government business, and its enterprise and government revenue sits within the Connectivity segment.[1,3]
Track satellite constellations and operators on SpaceNexus
Not for what Iridium is mostly used for. Iridium's 66-satellite L-band network serves handheld phones, IoT modems and maritime distress (GMDSS) with global coverage; Starlink serves broadband to dish-sized terminals. Starlink's Direct to Cell texting with T-Mobile is where they overlap.
Iridium covers the whole Earth including the poles and open ocean, and is one of two networks approved for GMDSS maritime distress service. SpaceX reports Starlink service in 167 countries, territories and other markets (June 2026).
It is designed for a different job. Iridium's L-band links carry voice and small data packets (2.4 Kbps on the legacy service, up to 704 Kbps on Certus) to small antennas. Starlink's broadband links deliver far higher speeds to a Starlink dish.
Iridium is listed on Nasdaq as IRDM, and Rocket Lab has agreed to acquire it (closing expected mid-2027). Starlink is part of SpaceX, which listed on Nasdaq as SPCX in June 2026. Nothing on SpaceNexus is investment advice.
It depends on the job. For high-speed internet, Starlink: Iridium's fastest service, Certus, tops out at 704 Kbps. For a small global SOS device or IoT sensor, Iridium's small L-band terminals are built for low-data use. Prices vary by plan and country, so check each provider.