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Iridium
Short Burst Data (SBD) Service

Iridium's low-latency SBD service provides an ideal solution for monitoring and updating status on everything from containers and trucks to planes and ships.

With Iridium SBD, it's possible to integrate mobile assets into an organisation's enterprise resource planning and logistics management using compact equipment and a single communication carrier.

And, since it is connected to the only truly global mobile satellite communications network, it works anywhere on the planet, with no expensive roaming charges or multiple service agreements.

From the North Pole to South Pole, Iridium SBD is always connected and backed by unmatched network quality and world-class technical support.

  • Oil & Gas - Equipment monitoring on pipelines
  • Transportation Logistics - Tracking mobile land-based trucks and heavy equipment
  • Maritime - Tracking and messaging for vessels
  • Aeronautical - Flight following for aircraft and helicopters
  • Energy & Utilities - Equipment monitoring on water, gas and electric utility distribution networks
  • Government & Defense
  • University Research

Message size for MO-SBD is between 1 and 1960 bytes (0 byte messages are referred to as "mailbox checks"). Message size for MT-SBD is between 1 and 1890 bytes.  The maximum message size depends on whether am Iridium 9601 or 9522B transceiver is used.  The 9601 has shorter message lengths, but the hardware is lower in cost and supports up to 340 bytes MO-SBD and 270 bytes MT-SBD.

Remote Applications send Mobile Originated SBD (MO-SBD) data messages via an Iridium Transceiver.  The application microcontroller or microprocessor communicates with the Transceiver using AT commands over an RS232 serial port.  The application loads the data message into the Transceiver and instructs it to send the data message.  The data message is transmitted across the Iridium satellite network to the Iridium Gateway.  From there, the data message is transferred via e-mail or an IP Socket to the customer's host computer system.  Here the message is stored in a database for further data processing.

Mobile Terminated SBD (MT-SBD) messages are sent to the Iridium Gateway via e-mail or IP Socket from the customer's host computer system.  With appropriate configuration and provisioning, the Iridium Gateway will send a 'Ring Alert' to the Transceiver when a MT-SBD message has been queued.  The Mobile Application will then decide whether to retrieve the MT-SBD data message at that time or later.

Global network transmit latency for delivery of messages ranges from approximately 5 seconds for short messages to approximately 20 seconds for maximum length messages. This latency is the elapsed time before the Iridium SBD system sends the SBD message to its e-mail destination. Additional latency introduced by the internet or the customer's host system is not in Iridium's control.

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