Norwegian low-power wireless connectivity firm Nordic Semiconductor has demonstrated direct NTN LEO satellite connectivity with OQ Technology.

Together, they successfully transmitted NB-IoT data from an nRF9151 module to OQ Technology’s LEO satellite network to prove global IoT coverage.

The end-to-end NB-IoT connectivity and data transmission from the low power cellular IoT module went directly to OQ Technology’s LEO satellite constellation.

The commercially available nRF9151 module runs Nordic’s standard cellular IoT software stack, connected over OQ Technology’s integrated 3GPP-compliant NTN NB-IoT RAN and 5G core network. This provides further proof that a compact, low-power, mass-market cellular IoT module can connect directly to NTN LEO satellite networks, making global coverage achievable without redesigning existing device hardware.

“Customers want a single solution that just works everywhere, also beyond terrestrial coverage,” said Kristian Sæther, senior product director 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.”

The nRF9151 is an integrated, low-power cellular IoT module that also supports terrestrial LTE-M and NB-IoT with global band coverage in a compact form factor. Its combination of long battery life and industrial-grade performance makes it suitable for asset tracking, smart metering, industrial monitoring and critical infrastructure applications.

Building on this, the nRF9151 has now achieved certification with two GEO satellite network providers and successfully completed testing with multiple LEO satellite networks, including OQ Technology. These milestones demonstrate the nRF9151’s capability to extend cellular IoT designs seamlessly into NTN, enabling connectivity across multiple satellite network providers and implementations.

“This achievement is the result of deep collaboration between Nordic and OQ Technology,” said Omar Qaise, CEO of Luxembourg-based 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 towards mass-market NTN adoption across sensors, trackers and industrial equipment.”

Nordic (www.nordicsemi.com) and OQ Technology (www.oqtec.com) will continue to collaborate to support mobile network operators, developers, OEMs and enterprises as they design and deploy NTN-enabled IoT devices, leveraging standard NB-IoT technology for global, reliable coverage.