Furuno Launches SOLION-100: Integrated Iridium GMDSS Terminal for Newbuilds and Retrofits

## Furuno Unveils Integrated SOLION-100 Terminal for Iridium GMDSS Furuno has introduced the SOLION-100, a new multi-function satellite communications terminal designed to consolidate three critical maritime regulatory requirements into a single unit, according to a PR Newswire announcement made at Hamburg on 1 September 2026. The terminal operates over the Iridium Certus 100 network and integrates Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) functionality alongside Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) and Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) capabilities — three systems that have traditionally required separate hardware installations aboard commercial vessels. ### Consolidation of Mandatory Systems The convergence of GMDSS, SSAS and LRIT into a single terminal represents a significant step forward in reducing shipboard equipment complexity and associated installation costs. For vessel operators, maintaining three discrete systems has historically meant separate maintenance contracts, antenna footprints and crew training requirements. The SOLION-100 aims to address all three obligations through one certified solution. The unit is positioned for both newbuild specification and retrofit applications, broadening its potential market considerably. With the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) modernisation of GMDSS regulations continuing to drive fleet upgrades across the global merchant fleet, demand for streamlined, satellite-based compliance solutions has grown steadily in recent years. ### Iridium Certus 100 Platform By leveraging the Iridium Certus 100 service — the entry-level tier of Iridium's broadband maritime offering — the SOLION-100 benefits from Iridium's pole-to-pole satellite constellation, which provides continuous global coverage including high-latitude and polar routes where geostationary satellite services are limited or unavailable. This characteristic is particularly relevant as Arctic and Antarctic shipping activity increases. Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), which co-announced the product, has been actively expanding its certified GMDSS ecosystem since receiving IMO recognition for Iridium as a GMDSS provider, a milestone that opened the door for terminals such as the SOLION-100 to serve as compliant primary distress and safety communication systems. ### Market Context The maritime satellite communications sector has seen intensifying competition as fleet operators seek cost-effective paths to GMDSS modernisation compliance. Furuno's established position as a leading supplier of bridge navigation and communication equipment gives the SOLION-100 a strong route to market through existing shipowner and shipyard relationships. Full technical specifications and certification details for the SOLION-100 were not disclosed in the initial announcement. Industry observers will be watching for type-approval confirmations and commercial availability timelines in the coming months.