In its numbers report for the third quarter of 2006, Iridium Satellite LLC saw subscriptions increase by 22.9 percent over the same period last year, the company announced Nov. 8.

Worldwide subscribers increased to approximately 169,000 from 137,500 in last year’s third quarter.

Iridium reported its total revenue in the third quarter as $54.7 million; for the nine months ended Sept. 30, the company posted total revenue of $159.3 million.

Third-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was $14.0 million; earnings through nine months was $39.9 million.

Among its highlights, the company reported that its data services increased 44 percent over the same period last year, and cited increased commercial-customer demand for voice and data services, noting that its commercial service revenue now comprises approximately 70 percent of its total revenue.