Nordic Accelerates Deployment of Hybrid Cellular-Satellite IoT Devices
Nordic Semiconductor has announced that its nRF9151 cellular IoT module is enabling a faster route to commercial satellite-enabled IoT devices after embedded modem manufacturer LooUQ obtained Skylo Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) certification for its MTC2-N9151 modem.
The certification builds on the Skylo approval already awarded to Nordic's nRF9151 platform, allowing LooUQ's modem to inherit key certification work and reducing the time and cost required for device manufacturers to bring satellite-connected IoT products to market. Devices based on the modem can automatically switch between terrestrial LTE-M/NB-IoT networks and Skylo's standards-based 3GPP NB-NTN satellite service through participating mobile network operators.
The nRF9151 integrates an application processor, LTE-M/NB-IoT, DECT NR+, and NB-NTN satellite connectivity into a single low-power module, eliminating the need for proprietary satellite hardware. Because the certification is inherited at the module level, manufacturers using LooUQ's modem can pursue their own Skylo certification with significantly less testing than would otherwise be required.
The first commercial deployment is already underway through Remsight, whose HydroProxy platform uses the LooUQ modem to monitor water infrastructure across remote parts of the western United States. The hybrid terrestrial-satellite connectivity allows solar-powered sensors to continue transmitting operational data in areas without reliable cellular coverage, supporting applications such as irrigation management and water infrastructure monitoring.
The announcement highlights a growing trend in the IoT market toward standards-based hybrid connectivity, where devices seamlessly roam between cellular and satellite networks using a single modem and antenna. Target applications include agriculture, utilities, energy infrastructure, logistics, asset tracking and environmental monitoring, where uninterrupted connectivity is increasingly becoming a core requirement rather than a premium feature.