Icom, Iridium Partner on Satellite PTT Product, Service

Japan-based Icom entered into a partnership with U.S.-based Iridium Communications to develop and sell a new satellite push-to-talk (PTT) communications product for the Iridium network. The partnership will provide a professional radio communications solution to enable users to communicate wherever they are on the earth, the companies said.

The smart collaboration combines both companies’ core competencies — Icom’s radio expertise and Iridium’s satellite expertise.

“Icom has been developing various wireless communications equipment for land use, marine use and air band use,” said Icom President Masataka Harima. “This satellite PTT project will be a tough challenge, but the project will fill an important piece of our product lineups that cover all areas from the surface of the earth and even in to space. We continue to challenge ourselves.”

The satellite PTT radio is a professional radio communications system using the Iridium satellite communications network. This system enables real-time, one-to-many communications throughout the world with only a push of a PTT transmit button. In addition, Iridium’s unique interconnected satellite architecture ensures stable and reliable communications even if large-scale disasters occur on earth and terrestrial networks are compromised.

“The market has shown a clear demand for a PTT-only radio solution designed for the Iridium network,” said Joel Thompson, vice president, global product and service management, Iridium. “With Icom’s significant experience in the LMR sector, we believe they are the perfect partner to introduce what will be the world’s first truly global PTT-only handheld.”

Shipment time and price of the product were not yet fixed.