Iridium Communications  is proud to announce its support of Omar Di Felice and the Antarctica Unlimited Project, the longest solo riding attempt ever by bicycle in the continent. The Italian ultra-cyclist, well known for his difficult solo-biking treks in some of the world’s most remote locations, travelled to Antarctica to cycle across the continent in an effort to set a record while spreading awareness of climate change.

Enduring a journey in such an extreme environment required Omar to use durable equipment and a reliable network that could withstand harsh conditions. Along his route, Omar has at his disposal an Iridium Extreme^® and Iridium GO! exec^®, both of which feature military-graded housing and use Iridium’s truly global, weather-resistant, L-band network, making them the perfect communication solutions for his journey. The devices are used primarily for safety and overall communication purposes, allowing Omar to get in contact with whomever, whenever, from anywhere throughout his journey.

“It is the biggest and most ambitious project of my life. It’s not a secret that Antarctica is one of the world’s most remote and unforgiving places. When I was in the beginning stages of building this project, I knew my safety had to be top-of-mind,” said Di Felice. “I was incredibly grateful to discover that devices connected with Iridium’s network could reach Earth’s polar regions. The Iridium Extreme by my side has given me unmatched peace-of-mind knowing that I can signal for an SOS and reach help in a moment’s notice. It’s also been very useful to have the chance to share pictures with those following my journey via the Iridium GO! exec.”

The Iridium Extreme and Iridium GO! exec are portable, water-resistant (IP65 rating), and robust satellite communication devices that operate over the Iridium® satellite network. The Iridium Extreme allows users to voice call and signal for SOS anywhere in the world, allowing off-grid outdoor enthusiasts, such as Di Felice, to focus on what’s in front of them without the worry of being disconnected from emergency services. The Iridium GO! exec provides satellite connectivity for your smartphone. The reliable tandem of the device and the Iridium GO! exec App allows users to share pictures, text message, email, and browse the internet, all directly from the comfort of their own smartphone.