{"title":"Iridium vs Viasat: Communications constellations compared","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/compare/iridium-vs-viasat","comparison":"Iridium ranks 24 on the Space 100 with a score of 80; Viasat ranks 49 with 74. Iridium is ahead on progress, positioning and leverage. Viasat is ahead on commercials. Level on deployment, production, technology and firepower. Iridium is based in McLean, United States, Viasat in Carlsbad, United States. Iridium: Subsidiary. Viasat: Established. Iridium is named in 23 signals and Viasat in 38.","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":"Viasat","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/viasat","city":"Carlsbad","country":"United States","stage":"Established","founded":null,"last_round":null,"positioning":"Viasat is a US satellite-communications company (FY26 record revenue of $4.64B, +2.7%; awards $4.9B) with all three ViaSat-3 satellites launched, though its F1 flagship operates at under 10% of design capacity after an antenna anomaly. It has 4,450 commercial aircraft in-flight-connectivity systems in service (+10%, a 1,000-aircraft backlog) and 1,315 NexusWave vessels, though its maritime business did not turn the corner per the CFO. Its forward story is the Equatys D2D shared-spectrum venture with Space42 (up to 2,800 satellites, Viasat as initial technology prime).","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":49,"score":74,"tier":"member","scores":{"gate_ne":["firepower"],"leverage":6,"position":6,"progress":9,"firepower":8,"commercial":10,"deployment":10,"production":6,"technology":6},"why":"Viasat operates satellite communications networks, including ViaSat-3, and sells broadband, in-flight, maritime, government and direct-to-device connectivity services.","segment":"Communications constellations","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":38,"facts_total":60}],"note":"Assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence; facts and signals carry their sources."}