Overview

Every cellular network has a boundary. Beyond it — in remote mines, cross-border corridors, open ocean routes, and off-grid farmland — standard GPS trackers go dark. Our Teltonika Iridium Connected® solution eliminates that blind spot entirely. Teltonika's field-proven GPS trackers (FMC125, FMX640, FMX650) pair seamlessly with the Iridium Edge® satellite module to deliver automatic, hardware-level failover from 4G LTE to 66 low-earth orbit Iridium satellites — with zero driver intervention required. One unified dashboard. One installation. Absolute worldwide visibility.

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How It Works

From installation to insight — step by step

01

Teltonika Tracker + Iridium Edge® Installation

The Iridium Edge® module connects to a compatible Teltonika tracker (FMC125, FMX640, or FMX650) via RS232 interface. Our Nairobi engineers install and configure the full system — no extra antennas, no complex wiring. The Iridium Edge® is IP67-rated and operates across a wide 9–32V power range, making it suitable for any vehicle or fixed asset.

02

Primary 4G LTE Cellular Tracking

Under normal conditions, the Teltonika tracker reports live position, speed, ignition status, and driver behaviour over 4G LTE to your fleet dashboard — exactly as a standard GPS tracker would, with no satellite data costs incurred.

03

Automatic Satellite Failover via Iridium SBD

When cellular signal is lost, a 90-second internal timer activates. If the tracker cannot re-establish a GPRS connection within this window, it automatically routes data through the Iridium Edge® module via Iridium Short Burst Data® (SBD®) — transmitting compressed, cost-efficient 14-byte position packets across 66 low-earth orbit satellites to your platform. No driver action. No configuration change. Completely automatic.

04

Unified Dashboard & SOS Response

Cellular and satellite data feed into the same fleet management platform — no separate dashboards, no data gaps. Drivers in satellite-only zones can trigger a priority SOS alarm that bypasses the 90-second timer, transmitting their exact GPS coordinates instantly via satellite for rapid emergency dispatch.

Key Features

Everything you need in one solution

Iridium Short Burst Data® (SBD®)

Satellite data is transmitted as compressed 14-byte packets via the Iridium SBD® protocol — minimising satellite airtime costs while maintaining reliable position reporting across 66 LEO satellites with true pole-to-pole global coverage.

Automatic 4G-to-Satellite Failover

Hardware-level automatic switching from cellular to Iridium satellite — triggered after a 90-second GPRS timeout. Zero driver interaction required. The system reverts to cellular the moment coverage is restored, eliminating unnecessary satellite usage costs.

100% Global Earth Coverage

Iridium's 66 low-earth orbit satellite constellation provides true pole-to-pole coverage — including oceans, polar regions, remote deserts, deep forests, and cross-border routes where no terrestrial network operates.

Priority SOS via Satellite

Drivers can trigger a panic alarm that immediately bypasses all timers and transmits an emergency position packet via Iridium satellite — dispatching GPS-tagged SOS coordinates to your control room from anywhere on earth.

IP67 Rugged Enclosure

The Iridium Edge® module is fully dust-sealed and waterproof to IP67 — rated for industrial installations, harsh weather, mining environments, and off-road agricultural use across Kenya and East Africa.

Compatible Teltonika Tracker Models

Validated and certified with Teltonika FMC125, FMC225, FMX640, FMX641, and FMX650 — the same proven tracker platform used across Techbarn's fleet, fuel, and security installations.

Single Unified Fleet Dashboard

Cellular and satellite records appear on the same platform, same map, same timeline — with no separate satellite console to manage. Full trip history, alerts, and reporting work identically regardless of which network transmitted the data.

Configurable Satellite Data Limits

Monthly satellite data usage limits are fully configurable (default: 8 KB plan) to control airtime spend and eliminate unexpected satellite billing. The system can also be set to transmit only on priority alarm events — giving you precise cost control.

Hardware Specifications

Iridium Edge® — Technical Data Sheet

Industrial-grade hardware engineered for mission-critical deployments in the harshest environments on earth.

Dimensions	130 × 80 × 30 mm
Weight	320 g
Interface	RS232 (connects to Teltonika tracker)
Power Supply	9–32 V DC
Operating Temperature	−40 °C to +85 °C
Ingress Protection	IP67 (dust-tight, waterproof)
Satellite Network	Iridium® (66 LEO satellites)
Data Protocol	Iridium Short Burst Data® (SBD®)
Certifications	FCC, CE, IC, ISO-9001, ICASA
Compatible Trackers	FMC125, FMC225, FMX640, FMX641, FMX650

Certified: FCC · CE · IC · ISO-9001 · ICASA — Installed and commissioned by Techbarn Technologies, Nairobi.

Industries Served

Built for every sector that relies on Satellite Backup Trackers

Mining & Extractives

Maintain continuous asset and personnel visibility across open-cast mines, underground approaches, and remote mineral extraction sites — where cellular infrastructure does not exist and operational downtime is measured in lost millions.

Cross-Border & Long-Haul Logistics

Track high-value cargo consignments across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, DRC, and beyond — through border crossings, highland corridors, and remote transit zones where coverage drops to zero.

Large-Scale Agriculture & Agribusiness

Monitor tractors, spray rigs, and harvest equipment operating across vast farm estates, game conservancies, and remote irrigation schemes that fall entirely outside cellular coverage.

Oil, Gas & Utilities

Track survey vehicles, pipe-laying equipment, and inspection teams across remote pipeline corridors and energy infrastructure — with satellite SOS capability for field crew safety.

Conservation & Wildlife Management

Provide rangers and anti-poaching units operating in national parks and game reserves with guaranteed two-way communication and position reporting regardless of terrain or distance from towers.

Construction & Heavy Plant

Monitor high-value machinery across remote infrastructure projects — road construction, dam building, and power line installation — with theft alerts and asset utilisation data delivered via satellite.

Key Benefits

Why businesses choose our Satellite Backup Trackers solution

Eliminate every cellular dead zone — your assets are visible 100% of the time, from Nairobi to the most remote corner of the continent
Zero driver action required — the system switches to satellite and back automatically at the hardware level, with no buttons to press
Protect drivers in remote and dangerous areas with instant GPS-tagged SOS transmission via satellite — from anywhere on earth
Recover stolen vehicles and assets even when driven beyond the cellular network boundary — a common tactic used by sophisticated theft rings
Control satellite costs precisely — configurable data limits and alarm-only satellite modes ensure you only pay for satellite airtime when you genuinely need it
Use the same trusted Teltonika platform your fleet already runs on — satellite data feeds into your existing dashboard without a separate system or integration project

Integrations

Connect with your existing systems

Open API enables data to flow directly into the platforms your business already runs on — no manual exports, no reconciliation delays.

Fleet Management Platforms

Satellite and cellular position data feeds into leading fleet platforms — Wialon, Navixy, and others — with no separate satellite connector or middleware required.

Fuel Monitoring Systems

Compatible Teltonika FMX models support simultaneous fuel sensor monitoring and satellite backup — delivering fuel level data from remote assets alongside GPS position, even beyond cellular range.

Driver Safety & SOS Systems

Satellite SOS alarms integrate with control room dispatch software to provide GPS-tagged emergency alerts from any location — satisfying duty-of-care and lone-worker safety requirements.

ERP & Operations Management

Verified cross-border trip data, satellite-confirmed arrival times, and remote asset utilisation records integrate with SAP, Oracle, and other ERP platforms for contract billing and compliance reporting.

Ready to deploy Satellite Backup Trackers?

Our Nairobi-based team will assess your needs, recommend the right hardware, and handle installation end-to-end.

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