Iridium SBD Airtime Services
Reliable satellite data for tracking, monitoring and remote operations.
Beam Communications provides Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) airtime for enterprise and government customers. SBD sends and receives short data messages between remote equipment and central systems, supporting operations beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.
Data connectivity wherever you operate
Designed for frequent, low-volume messaging, SBD supports asset tracking, remote telemetry and machine-to-machine communication across industries including maritime, transport, utilities, oil and gas, and government.
- Global coverage for remote and mobile assets.
- Two-way messaging for monitoring and control.
- Compatibility with small, low-power satellite transceivers.
- Airtime for new installations and existing supported equipment.
Choose a plan for your fleet
Static plans allocate an individual data allowance to each device and suit smaller fleets with consistent usage. Pooled plans share included data across devices and suit larger fleets with varying usage. For example, twenty devices with a 12,000-byte pooled allowance provide a shared pool of 240,000 bytes.
| Plan details | SBDS0 | SBDS8 | SBDS12 | SBDS17 | SBDS30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee – per service | $26.00 | $23.00 | $33.00 | $38.50 | $65.00 |
| Bytes included | 0 | 8,000 | 12,000 | 17,000 | 30,000 |
| Activation Fee (Once Off) | FREE | $75.00 | $75.00 | $75.00 | $75.00 |
| Monthly fee for Suspended service | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Excess Data usage | $1.95 | $3.25 | $1.95 | $2.55 | $1.95 |
| Min Contract Period | 6 Months | 6 Months | 6 Months | 6 Months | 6 Months |
| Min billable message size | 30 bytes | 10 bytes | 10 bytes | 10 bytes | 10 bytes |
| Mailbox Check (per event) | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 |
| SBD Registration (per event) | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 |
| Plan details | SBDP 12 | SBDP17 | SBDP30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee – per service | $38.50 | $45.00 | $70.00 |
| Bytes included | 12,000 | 17,000 | 30,000 |
| Activation Fee (Once Off) | $35.00 | $35.00 | $35.00 |
| Monthly fee for Suspended service | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Excess Data usage | $3.25 | $2.55 | $1.95 |
| Min Contract Period | 6 Months | 6 Months | 6 Months |
| Min billable message size | 10 bytes | 10 bytes | 10 bytes |
| Mailbox Check (per event) | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 |
| SBD Registration (per event) | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.05 |
Activation and device management
SBD activation uses the Iridium transceiver’s IMEI and does not require a SIM card. Airtime charges include a recurring monthly fee and any applicable usage charges under the selected plan.
Customers with at least ten devices can use the online portal to manage services, review usage and alerts, update delivery addresses, view bills, and activate, suspend or deactivate devices.
Developer resources
Discuss your SBD requirements
For help choosing a plan or discussing a custom solution, contact sales@beamcommunications.com.