Furuno Launches SOLION-100 Terminal for Iridium GMDSS Network

The terminal utilizes Iridium’s low-Earth orbit satellite network, providing safety coverage that extends into polar regions—areas often underserved by traditional geostationary systems. By combining these essential safety features, the SOLION-100 allows crews to manage distress alerts, receive meteorological warnings via SafetyCast, and establish direct voice links with rescue coordination centers from a single interface.

Kiyoshi Furuno, head of the company's marine electronic products division, noted that the terminal bridges the gap between existing navigation systems and modern LEO satellite safety technology. For shipowners and yards, this provides a flexible hardware option for both newbuild projects and vessel retrofits. The hardware is scheduled for commercial release in late 2026 for retrofit applications, with availability for newbuilds expected in 2027.