Iridium Satellite Development Kit
The Iridium Certus 9704 Development Kit - a compact, ready-to-use hardware platform - integrates Iridium’s advanced satellite transceiver technology with accessible, Arduino-compatible hardware.
Satellite connectivity offers unparalleled reach, but, until recently, it remained out of reach for many developers and innovators. High costs, specialized hardware, and steep learning curves created significant barriers to entry. Iridium set out to change that by making their Certus® 9704 transceiver more accessible to engineers and makers worldwide through an intuitive development platform.
The Solution
Device Solutions collaborated with Iridium to design the Iridium Certus 9704 Development Kit - a compact, ready-to-use hardware platform that integrates Iridium’s advanced satellite transceiver technology with accessible, Arduino-compatible hardware. The Device Solutions team focused on delivering hardware that captured Iridium’s vision - reliable, power-efficient, and developer-friendly from day one.
Key contributions included:
Custom board design built for low-power operation and high durability
Hardware integration that simplifies satellite connectivity for non-specialist users
Interface compatibility with the Arduino ecosystem, enabling seamless connectivity to existing sensors and accessories
Documentation and reference materials to support hardware evaluation and rapid prototyping
By designing the hardware around Arduino’s well-established development model, Device Solutions helped Iridium reduce the barrier to entry and speed up adoption across industries.
The Results
The result is a development kit that brings global satellite connectivity within reach for engineers at any stage - from proof-of-concept to small-batch deployment. With intuitive interfaces and global coverage, the kit is enabling rapid innovation in use cases like remote monitoring, asset tracking, and environmental sensing.
Iridium’s decision to leverage the Arduino ecosystem, paired with Device Solutions’ engineering support, has led to overwhelming adoption.
“The uptake of this product into the market has exceeded even our highest expectations... The value-multiplier that having a ready-to-go satellite communication transceiver that is compatible with the Arduino ecosystem is really improving our market position.” Garrett Chandler, Executive Director of Product Engineering at Iridium
The Summary
Technologies & Services:
Custom PCB design
Arduino-based open-source software
Turnkey development (custom hardware design, open-source software development, prototyping, testing, low-volume manufacturing)
Continuous integration & test tools
Results & Highlights:
Long-range satellite connectivity
Suitable in various locations
Low volume production
Three generations of dev kits and multi-board test solutions
10+ year deep collaboration with internal team and other partners
“Iridium built something extraordinary - and we were honored to support them. This is the kind of project that moves the industry forward.” Spencer Mougey, Manager of Firmware Engineering at Device Solutions