Nordic Semiconductor, a global leader in low-power wireless connectivity solutions, has achieved a major milestone in NTN satellite communication with a successful chip-to-cloud transmission using Nordic’s nRF9151 low-power cellular IoT module via Sateliot’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network to Nordic’s nRF Cloud - the company’s integrated platform for device management, embedded observability, and location services.
Breakthrough in Direct-to-Device Satellite IoT Communication
Sateliot has become the first company to demonstrate a LEO 5G IoT satellite constellation acting as a cell tower in space, offering a direct-to-device extension of terrestrial cellular networks. The successful connection represents a pivotal advancement in LEO satellite communications, promising to extend IoT connectivity to some of the most remote areas of the planet. It also validates the capabilities of Nordic’s low-power cellular IoT technology for real-world applications such as smart agriculture, asset tracking, and smart metering.
“We are excited that together with Sateliot and Gatehouse Satcom, we have achieved another major milestone in our satellite communication roadmap,” said Oyvind Birkenes, EVP, Long Range BU, Nordic Semiconductor. “This successful test is a testament to Nordic's commitment to pushing the boundaries of satellite communications.”
Collaboration Across Industry Leaders
“This breakthrough in satellite IoT connectivity, achieved alongside Nordic Semiconductor and Sateliot, underscores the power of collaboration,” said Jesper Noer, VP Commercial, Gatehouse Satcom. “We are excited to see our 5G NTN NB-IoT software play a key role in bringing reliable communication to even the remotest regions of the world.”
“Our objective is to enable true global IoT connectivity—outside the reach of terrestrial operators—and to make it affordable for a massive range of use cases,” added Jaume Sanpera, CEO and co-founder of Sateliot. “We are excited to partner with Nordic Semiconductor to help democratize satellite connectivity.”
Nordic Commits to Commercial Satellite IoT Rollout
With the nRF9151, you get more than just hardware. You get a complete solution backed by Nordic's certified stacks, development tools, cloud services, and world-class support.
Building on its NTN GEO (Geostationary Orbit) solution based on the nRF9151 module, Nordic plans to deliver a commercial NTN LEO connectivity solution using the same technology. The nRF9151 is among the lowest power cellular IoT solutions available, offering industry-leading battery life. It is designed for applications that can only support terrestrial-class antenna cost and power budgets, while providing higher data rates than GEO-based NTN systems.
With approximately 75% of Earth’s landmass lacking terrestrial cellular coverage, Nordic sees strong potential for low-power satellite-connected devices. The nRF9151 will enable developers to create efficient satellite IoT devices, accelerating adoption in industries such as agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring.
A Cost-Efficient Alternative to Private Networks
The LEO NTN solution, demonstrated by Nordic and its partners, paves the way for globally connected, ultra-low-power IoT applications across various sectors, including remote monitoring, global tracking, and smart agriculture. With Nordic's satellite connectivity solutions, accessing reliable communication becomes more feasible and cost-effective, even in isolated regions. The technology also offers an efficient and secure alternative to private network infrastructure for businesses and communities in rural or remote areas.
Nordic, Sateliot, and Gatehouse Satcom will continue working to make the solution available for developers and enterprises aiming to test and deploy commercial devices using NTN LEO connectivity. The nRF9151 with NTN support is expected to reach general availability in early 2026.
