Mobile satellite communications company Iridium Communications has reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2012.
Thanks in part to the estimated lifespan of the company’s satellite constellation being longer than previously expected, net income was up 51% year-on-year to $17.7 million (£11.4 million). Total revenue for Q2 was $97.3 million, up 1% year-on-year.
Iridium ended the quarter with 576,000 total billable subscribers, up 21% year-over-year, driven by machine-to-machine data connections and commercial voice customers.
Matt Desch, the CEO of Iridium, said “Iridium remains on a solid, long-term growth trajectory, with good progress in several key areas of our commercial business being partially offset by what we believe is short-term weakness in traditional government voice subscribers. Our M2M, maritime broadband and aviation markets continue to grow revenue and subscribers in the double-digits on a year-over-year basis, built on the foundation of a superior network, innovative partner channel and favorable competitive dynamics. In addition, we expect our global aviation monitoring venture, Aireon, to be a meaningful new source of high-margin revenue once Iridium NEXT is launched.”
Commercial M2M data subscribers grew 49% year-on-year to 202,000 customers, while government M2M data subscribers were up 20%.