A New Step Toward Reliable Positioning Beyond GPS
Nov 10, 2025
Iridium Communications has announced a significant advancement in alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) technology by introducing a dedicated application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed to integrate Iridium PNT capabilities into electronic devices worldwide. Released in late October 2025, this new chip represents a major step forward in protecting critical infrastructure and consumer devices from GPS vulnerabilities and disruptions. The ASIC, measuring just 8 millimeters by 8 millimeters, is engineered to deliver authenticated PNT data as a viable alternative to traditional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) services. According to the company, this compact form factor makes the technology accessible for a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics to large-scale infrastructure systems, marking a transformative moment in the PNT industry.
Iridium PNT ASIC. Credit: Iridium
The Iridium PNT ASIC offers different technical capabilities compared to conventional positioning systems in the following major respects. The chip, when integrated into a device, receives cryptographically secure time and location data signals from Iridium’s satellite network. The company says these signals are about 1,000 times more powerful than usual GPS signals. Notably, the system functions effectively inside buildings, addressing one of the most important shortcomings of conventional satellite-based positioning systems. The chip may work as a standalone Iridium PNT receiver, or it can be part of a hybrid solution offering or enabling both Iridium and GNSS capabilities, which can be flexible to various deployment requirements and user preferences. This flexibility means that both manufacturers and infrastructure operators have a choice of the most appropriate integration approach that can meet their needs and operational requirements.
The range of possible applications of this technology is very wide and includes various critical areas and industries. The ASIC may be embedded in both simple consumer devices and critical infrastructural systems, including power systems, transportation systems and telecommunications infrastructure. For power grids, timing and positioning are important to ensure they are reliable, so as to maintain synchronization and avoid cascading failures. The transportation system is extremely sensitive to accurate navigation and time for operational safety and efficiency, and telecommunications networks, especially 5G, need to be synchronized correctly to work effectively. The company highlights that such universal accessibility to authenticated PNT functions on a worldwide scale is an unmatched advancement in the industry, and is a response to the decades-long weaknesses in the systems that relied on GPS precision and accessibility.
Iridium is currently organizing beta trial programs that will provide select partners with evaluation kits for the Iridium PNT ASIC. These early-stage trials are designed to enable partners to conduct integration testing and assess the chip’s performance in their specific applications before full commercial deployment. The company has announced that commercial availability of the Iridium PNT ASIC is targeted for mid-2026, which will give manufacturers and infrastructure operators a concrete timeline for incorporating the technology into their systems. During this interim period, beta partners will have the opportunity to troubleshoot potential issues, optimize integration processes, and gain hands-on experience with the new technology, thereby reducing risks associated with broader market adoption.
The announcement by Iridium occurs after a substantial government contract award by the U.S. Department of Transportation, indicating increased confidence in the PNT solution of the company by the government. The company attained this position after acquiring Satelles last year, which enabled it to integrate special PNT capabilities into its satellite system. With the increased awareness of the dangers of excessive dependency on GPS among the commercial operators as well as the government agencies, the ASIC chip offered by Iridium presents a viable solution with its enhanced resilience and backup of the critical infrastructure. The technology will be at the stage of commercial implementation in 2026 and the industry will be watching to see how quickly manufacturers and operators adopt the technology to protect critical services against GPS disruption.
