Iridium Communications, jockeying with US rival Orbcomm at the top of the satellite IoT market, has struck a deal with machinery manufacturer Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG) to connect its heavy equipment in global markets, including its excavators, loaders, and crane trucks. XCMG makes heavy equipment for the construction and mining industries, with major operations in Africa, Australia, Latin America, and Central and Southeast Asia.
XCMG will use Iridium’s IoT network and services, based on its own low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, to maintain critical connectivity with its machinery in key locations, a statement said. Specifically, it is taking the US firm’s Iridium Edge satellite IoT terminal as a complement to terrestrial-based cellular connectivity.
