RockBLOCK Pro takes satellite IoT to the next level

Ground Control has become the first Iridium partner to bring a certified Iridium Certus 9704 device to market: the ruggedised RockBLOCK Pro satellite IoT gateway. Powered by the new Iridium Certus® 9704 module and Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT), the RockBLOCK Pro offers faster throughput, significantly larger message capacity, and greater power efficiency than previous RockBLOCK devices, ideal for mission-critical remote applications.

RockBLOCK Pro utilises the Iridium 9704 module to send bi-directional messages from 25 bytes up to 100 KB, accommodating aggregated sensor data, images and audio clips with typical end-to-cloud latency under 10 seconds. Compared to the Iridium 9602/9603 module, the 9704 offers up to an 83% reduction in idle power consumption, making it extremely power-efficient.

Engineered for harsh outdoor and industrial environments, RockBLOCK Pro is an IP66 rated terminal, with options for use with a built-in antenna or external antenna. It supports the legacy Iridium AT command set, enabling drop-in upgrades for existing SBD deployments without changes to host firmware or developer toolchains.

For end to end message handling, RockBLOCK Pro integrates tightly with Cloudloop Data, which delivers messages via direct cloud-platform integrations such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud, or HTTP webhooks, MQTT, and email. Built-in GNSS, Bluetooth, and configurable digital I/O further expand its utility across telemetry, tracking, environmental monitoring and autonomous applications.

Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control, said: “RockBLOCK Pro redefines the satellite IoT gateway category by  bringing together power efficiency, rugged design, and data capacity in a compact footprint, unlocking smarter, more responsive systems in the world’s most remote places. As the first partner to bring a certified Iridium Certus 9704 product to market, we’re proud to lead the next chapter of global IoT.”

“The Iridium Certus 9704 packs a lot of power in a compact module, making it ideal for IoT applications that require real-time data analysis, analytics and automated decision-making,” said Tim Last, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Iridium. “Ground Control has been a trusted Iridium partner for many years, with a proven track record of delivering high quality developer hardware built on Iridium technology. We’re excited to see them leading the way with innovative solutions that bring high performance satellite IoT connectivity to the most remote parts of the world.”

RockBLOCK Pro is now open for early access inquiries, with the initial production run in May, and full production from July 2025. Interested customers should contact Ground Control or complete the early access form at groundcontrol.com/product/rockblock-pro/.