Nordic Semiconductor, a global contributor in low-power wireless connectivity solutions, has announced a new step for non-terrestrial network (NTN) IoT – a successful end-to-end NB-IoT connectivity and data transmission from the low power nRF9151 cellular IoT module directly to OQ Technology’s LEO satellite constellation.
Mass-market cellular IoT modules enable global NTN coverage
The commercially available nRF9151 module runs Nordic’s standard cellular IoT software stack, connected over OQ Technology’s fully integrated 3GPP-compliant NTN NB-IoT RAN and 5G core network. This marks a further proof point that a compact, low-power, mass-market cellular IoT module can connect directly to NTN LEO satellite networks, making truly global coverage achievable without redesigning existing device hardware.
“Customers want a single solution that just works everywhere, also beyond terrestrial coverage,” said Kristian Sæther, the senior product director of long-range BU at Nordic Semiconductor. “By having Nordic’s nRF9151 module connecting to OQ’s LEO satellites, we’re enabling developers to extend coverage without redesigning hardware—simplifying deployment and reducing cost.”
nRF9151 extends terrestrial LTE-M and NB-IoT into non-terrestrial networks
Nordic’s nRF9151 is a highly integrated, low-power cellular IoT module that also supports terrestrial LTE-M/NB-IoT with global band coverage in a compact form factor. Its combination of long battery life and industrial-grade performance makes it a preferred choice for asset tracking, smart metering, industrial monitoring and critical infrastructure applications. Building on this foundation, the nRF9151 has now achieved certification with two GEO satellite network providers and completed testing with multiple LEO satellite networks, including OQ Technology. These steps demonstrate the nRF9151’s capability to extend cellular IoT designs into NTN enabling connectivity across multiple satellite network providers and implementations.
Collaboration proves viability of 3GPP-compliant NTN at scale
“This achievement is the result of deep collaboration between Nordic and OQ Technology,” said Omar Qaise, the founder and CEO of OQ Technology. “Nordic’s module and software, together with our vertically integrated and in-house developed 3GPP NTN RAN stack, show that standard NB-IoT devices can connect into satellite connectivity at scale. This is a crucial step toward mass-market NTN adoption across sensors, trackers and industrial equipment.”
Enabling new IoT use cases beyond terrestrial coverage
Nordic and OQ Technology will continue to collaborate to support mobile network operators, developers, OEMs and enterprises as they design and deploy the next generation of NTN-enabled IoT devices—using standard NB-IoT technology for global, reliable coverage.
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