Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) and Deutsche Telekom IoT announced the successful transmission of a voice message over Iridium NTN Direct during Telekom Satellite Day 2026, in a demonstration that also involved Toyota.

The message was sent from a Toyota vehicle equipped with a Nordic Semiconductor nRF9151 development board and a Deutsche Telekom IoT SIM, transmitted entirely via Iridium's low-Earth orbit satellite constellation. The transmission used a standards-based NB-IoT protocol and was supported by Fraunhofer's AI-based NESC Voice Codec, which operates at bitrates of 1 kb/s or less.

The demonstration followed the completion of a global roaming agreement between Iridium and Deutsche Telekom IoT. Under the agreement, eligible Deutsche Telekom IoT customers using compatible NB-IoT devices will be able to roam between terrestrial networks and Iridium satellites. Selected European customers are already testing applications on the Iridium network using Deutsche Telekom's Global SIM.

Commercial availability of Iridium NTN Direct for Deutsche Telekom IoT customers is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, according to the companies' joint statement.

Iridium CEO Matt Desch said the demonstration "illustrates how Iridium NTN Direct will enhance consumer and commercial applications for people and assets operating outside traditional coverage areas." Deutsche Telekom IoT CEO Christian Schwalbe described the effort as combining mobile communications and satellite into "a global IoT infrastructure."

The companies said the service is intended for automotive, logistics, remote utilities, smart agriculture, and emergency response applications. Iridium NTN Direct uses Iridium's existing global L-band LEO satellite constellation, which the company says already operates worldwide.