Sateliot and Nordic Claim World-First 5G IoT Connection from LEO Satellite
Sateliot, the leading 5G IoT satellite telecommunications operator, has achieved a historic milestone by successfully completing the first-ever 5G IoT transmission from a standard commercial cellular device via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
The breakthrough demonstrates full interoperability between terrestrial and satellite networks, proving that existing cellular IoT devices can seamlessly connect to space-based networks without any hardware modifications. This marks a major step toward truly global, affordable IoT coverage.
The test used Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151 low-power cellular IoT module, which connected directly through Sateliot’s constellation to send an end-to-end 5G message, replicating the same roaming experience as terrestrial networks. The project also involved Gatehouse Satcom, a leader in 5G satellite software, validating compliance with the 3GPP Release 17 NB-IoT standard.
By extending coverage to the 80% of the planet not served by terrestrial networks, this advance enables IoT connectivity for sectors such as logistics, agriculture, environmental monitoring, infrastructure, and defense — bringing critical data and communications online in even the most remote regions.
Sateliot has already secured €250 million in recurring contracts with more than 450 customers across 50 countries, and projects revenue of €1 billion by 2030. The company’s vision is to democratize global IoT access, connecting sensors, systems, and industries worldwide under a unified, space-enabled 5G standard.