Nordic Semiconductor, a global leader in low-power wireless connectivity, announced a major milestone in non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite communication, successfully demonstrating chip-to-cloud communication via Sateliot’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites using Nordic’s nRF9151 cellular IoT module. The connection, reaching Nordic’s nRF Cloud platform for device management, observability, and location services, signals a significant advance in bringing IoT connectivity to remote and underserved regions.
The breakthrough allows Sateliot’s LEO satellite constellation to function effectively as a cell tower in space, providing a seamless extension of terrestrial cellular networks. This Direct-to-Device satellite connectivity promises to expand IoT applications to areas previously unreachable, including smart agriculture, asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and smart metering. With roughly 75% of the planet’s landmass lacking terrestrial cellular coverage, the technology addresses a critical gap in global IoT deployment.
“This successful test is a testament to Nordic’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of satellite communications,” said Oyvind Birkenes, EVP Long Range BU at Nordic Semiconductor. He added that the milestone reflects the company’s focus on enabling low-power, high-performance connectivity for real-world industrial applications.
Collaboration among industry leaders has been central to the achievement. Jesper Noer, VP Commercial at Gatehouse Satcom, highlighted the role of the company’s 5G NTN NB-IoT software in enabling reliable connectivity in the most remote locations. Jaume Sanpera, CEO and co-founder of Sateliot, emphasized the objective of democratizing satellite connectivity to make global IoT access both affordable and widely deployable, extending coverage beyond conventional telecom operators.
Nordic Semiconductor is committed to commercializing the NTN LEO solution based on the nRF9151 module, which the company describes as the lowest-power cellular IoT solution available, offering industry-leading battery life. Compared with its GEO (Geostationary Orbit) solutions, the LEO approach provides higher data rates and can support new IoT use cases that demand ultra-low power consumption and minimal antenna costs.
The LEO NTN solution presents a cost-efficient alternative to private networks, enabling globally connected devices without the need for expensive infrastructure. It opens the door for businesses, rural communities, and industrial operations to access secure and reliable communications even in the most isolated areas. Applications span remote monitoring and control, global tracking, smart agriculture, and other low-power IoT deployments, providing scalable connectivity for both new and existing solutions.
General availability of the nRF9151 module with NTN support is expected in early 2026, with Nordic, Sateliot, and Gatehouse Satcom working to make the platform accessible to developers and companies looking to test and build commercial IoT devices using LEO connectivity. The milestone positions the trio as key enablers of a truly global IoT ecosystem, addressing the historical limitations of terrestrial networks while reducing the cost and complexity of satellite-based solutions.
