{"title":"Iridium vs SES: Communications constellations compared","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/compare/iridium-vs-ses","comparison":"Iridium ranks 24 on the Space 100 with a score of 80; SES ranks 39 with 77. Iridium is ahead on deployment, commercials and progress. Level on production, technology, positioning, firepower and leverage. Iridium is based in McLean, United States, SES in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. Iridium: Subsidiary. SES: Established. Iridium is named in 23 signals and SES in 75.","companies":[{"name":"Iridium","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/iridium","city":"McLean","country":"United States","stage":"Subsidiary","founded":null,"last_round":null,"positioning":"Iridium is a US satellite operator (Nasdaq:IRDM) running a 66-satellite operational L-band constellation with decades of continuous global service (voice, data, IoT, PNT) and FY25 revenue of ~$830M (75% recurring service). It is being acquired by Rocket Lab in a ~$8B pending deal, the largest space-sector M&A of the cycle, creating a vertically integrated space platform projected at ~$1.8B 2026 revenue near break-even. PNT (GPS-alternative timing) is its growth segment.","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":24,"score":80,"tier":"member","scores":{"gate_ne":["firepower"],"leverage":8,"position":8,"progress":10,"firepower":8,"commercial":9,"deployment":10,"production":6,"technology":6},"why":"Iridium operates a global satellite network providing voice, IoT, maritime safety, tracking, and satellite-to-device connectivity services to commercial, enterprise, and government customers.","segment":"Communications constellations","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":23,"facts_total":35},{"name":"SES","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/ses","city":"Betzdorf","country":"Luxembourg","stage":"Established","founded":null,"last_round":null,"positioning":"SES is a Luxembourg multi-orbit satellite operator (>EUR 3.5B class after completing its Intelsat acquisition in 2025) running a GEO fleet plus the O3b mPOWER MEO constellation, the consolidation move of the operator sector with Intelsat integration underway. K2 Space is building an initial 30-satellite MEO network for it, and it partners with Eutelsat OneWeb on airline multi-orbit deals. Current figures are verified-light this pass (a dedicated results pass owed).","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":39,"score":77,"tier":"member","scores":{"gate_ne":["firepower"],"leverage":8,"position":8,"progress":9,"firepower":8,"commercial":8,"deployment":9,"production":6,"technology":6},"why":"SES operates GEO and MEO satellite networks, including O3b mPOWER, and sells connectivity to broadband, direct-to-device, maritime, government, defense and media customers.","segment":"Communications constellations","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":75,"facts_total":110}],"note":"Assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence; facts and signals carry their sources."}