Iridium NTN Direct has taken another step forward in its development, with Mlink Technology starting live on-air testing of its MS150-IR IoT-NTN chipset. The MS150-IR is a specialized version of Mlink's MS150 chipset family, designed specifically for Iridium NTN Direct, a 3GPP standards-based non-terrestrial network service.
The significance of this milestone lies in the chipset-level validation, which provides a clearer hardware path for module vendors and OEMs. This validation is crucial as it allows device makers to embed satellite fallback or satellite-native operation into form factors already designed for low-power IoT.
The MS150-IR has completed Iridium laboratory testing and has now moved into over-the-air validation on the Iridium network. Iridium and Mlink anticipate certification and product availability before the end of 2026. A reference design kit has also been introduced by Mlink, which can reduce the number of unknowns early in a product program for OEMs developing trackers, meters, remote monitors or industrial devices.
The combination of a specialized Mlink chipset variant and Iridium's standards-based NTN service is a distinct feature that makes satellite connectivity easier to evaluate alongside NB-IoT product plans. This standards-based approach can make satellite IoT a more viable option for IoT professionals, particularly for industrial users who often sit at the edge of cellular economics.
The remaining milestone is certification. Until then, the Mlink MS150-IR's progress should be viewed as ecosystem development for Iridium NTN Direct, a necessary step toward broader device availability, but not yet proof of commercial deployment at scale.
The broader relevance of NTN Direct is in service extension, positioning it as a way to extend low-power IoT coverage beyond terrestrial footprints through a global satellite platform. If commercialized as planned, this could support managed IoT offerings where satellite acts as a coverage layer for remote or mobile assets rather than as a completely separate connectivity category.
In a market crowded with satellite IoT claims, the announcement is worth watching as it represents a necessary step toward broader device availability and a more viable option for IoT professionals.
