Short Burst Data (SBD)
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Service Plans / Machine To Machine / Short Burst Data (SBD)
Iridium Short Burst Data Plans: Pay Per Use and Bundled Allowance
Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) airtime moves small packets, such as a position report or a sensor reading, from remote equipment with no person required at either end. The 0 KB plan is billed entirely per use; the three bundled plans include a matched allowance of minutes, texts and data. Choose pay per use for occasional reporting, or a bundled tier for a device that reports on a fixed schedule.
No bundle
Pay per use
A device that reports rarely and would not use a bundled allowance anyway.
See 1 plan →Bundled allowance
Bundled allowance plans
A device that reports on a fixed schedule and would otherwise rack up per-message charges.
See 3 plans →No bundle1 plan
Pay per use
No allowance is bundled in; every message, minute and kilobyte used is billed at the rate shown on the plan page. The service still runs on a 12 month term.
Who it suits: A device that reports rarely and would not use a bundled allowance anyway.
BillingMonthly, postpaid
Term12 months
IncludesNo bundled allowance, billed per use
Over the allowancePer-minute, per-message and per-KB rate on the plan page
0 KB included, billed per message used
Bundled allowance3 plans
Bundled allowance plans
A matched allowance of voice minutes, text messages and data every month, sized to the KB tier in the plan name. Usage beyond the allowance is billed at the rate shown on the plan page.
Who it suits: A device that reports on a fixed schedule and would otherwise rack up per-message charges.
BillingMonthly, postpaid
Term12 months
IncludesVoice minutes, texts and data matched to the KB tier
Over the allowancePer-minute, per-message and per-KB rate on the plan page
12 KB included, plus 12 minutes and 12 texts a month
17 KB included, plus 17 minutes and 17 texts a month
30 KB included, plus 30 minutes and 30 texts a month
Side by side
Pay per use or a bundled tier
| Pay Per Use | Bundled Allowance | |
|---|---|---|
| You pay | Every month | Every month |
| Commitment | 12-month term | 12-month term |
| Includes | No bundled allowance | Voice minutes, texts and data matched to the KB tier |
| Run out of allowance | Per-minute, per-message and per-KB rate on the plan page | Per-minute, per-message and per-KB rate on the plan page |
| Where it works | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Best for | A device that reports rarely | A device that reports on a fixed schedule |
The network
Why Iridium Short Burst Data for telemetry
SBD moves very small messages, typically a position report or a sensor reading, at a cost that works at fleet scale. Buoys, pipeline sensors, containers, generators and remote weather stations all report over the same network with no person present.
- Built for small, frequent messages rather than continuous data
- Runs on the Iridium network, with coverage that includes both poles
- A bundled tier adds a fixed allowance of minutes, texts and data for a device that reports on a schedule
- The pay per use plan suits a device that reports rarely
The fine print, plainly
Good to know before you activate
- A one-time activation fee applies to every new line; it is shown on the plan page.
- The service runs on a 12 month term, billed monthly.
- The 0 KB plan carries no bundled allowance; every message, minute and kilobyte is billed at the rate on the plan page.
- The bundled plans include a matched allowance of voice minutes, text messages and data each month.
- Coverage is global.
- SBD is built for short messages; larger data needs are handled by a different Iridium service.
- Ending a plan before its term is up carries the fee stated on the order; ask before cancelling if any allowance is still unused.
Questions
Short Burst Data (SBD) plan questions, answered
Not covered here? The help centre has dialing guides, activation steps and coverage maps.
Help centrePick pay per use if the device reports rarely; pick a bundled tier if it reports on a regular schedule and would otherwise rack up per-message charges.
Not sure how often the device needs to report?
Tell us what the device tracks and how often. We will say plainly whether pay per use or a bundled plan fits better.