An implantable processor arrangement for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) system implanted under the skin of a patient, the arrangement comprising: an implantable communications coil arrangement that includes a tank circuit comprising a coil and a capacitor, wherein said implantable communications coil arrangement is configured for transdermal transfer of an implant communications signal; a data driver; and an implantable processor coupled to and configured to control the implantable communications coil arrangement so as to operate in two different communications modes: i. a normal operation mode wherein the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for peridermal communication with an external communications coil placed on the skin of the patient immediately over the implanted coil of the implantable communications coil arrangement using load modulation of the communications coil arrangement, and ii. a long range telemetry mode wherein the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for extradermal communication with an external telemetry coil located distant from the skin of the patient immediately over the implantable communications coil arrangement, wherein said implantable processor (CPU 1) sends outbound telemetry data to the data driver, which modulates said outbound telemetry data signal at a resonance frequency of said tank circuit, which creates a modulated and alternating magnetic field that is extradermally transmitted across the skin to said external telemetry coil. an implantable communications coil arrangement that includes a tank circuit comprising a coil and a capacitor, wherein said implantable communications coil arrangement is configured for transdermal transfer of an implant communications signal; a data driver; and an implantable processor coupled to and configured to control the implantable communications coil arrangement so as to operate in two different communications modes: i. a normal operation mode wherein the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for peridermal communication with an external communications coil placed on the skin of the patient immediately over the implanted coil of the implantable communications coil arrangement using load modulation of the communications coil arrangement, and ii. a long range telemetry mode wherein the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for extradermal communication with an external telemetry coil located distant from the skin of the patient immediately over the implantable communications coil arrangement, wherein said implantable processor (CPU 1) sends outbound telemetry data to the data driver, which modulates said outbound telemetry data signal at a resonance frequency of said tank circuit, which creates a modulated and alternating magnetic field that is extradermally transmitted across the skin to said external telemetry coil. i. a normal operation mode wherein the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for peridermal communication with an external communications coil placed on the skin of the patient immediately over the implanted coil of the implantable communications coil arrangement using load modulation of the communications coil arrangement, and ii. a long range telemetry mode wherein the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for extradermal communication with an external telemetry coil located distant from the skin of the patient immediately over the implantable communications coil arrangement, wherein said implantable processor (CPU 1) sends outbound telemetry data to the data driver, which modulates said outbound telemetry data signal at a resonance frequency of said tank circuit, which creates a modulated and alternating magnetic field that is extradermally transmitted across the skin to said external telemetry coil.