Nordic and OQ Technology Demonstrate Direct NB-IoT Connectivity Via LEO
Nordic Semiconductor and OQ Technology have successfully demonstrated end-to-end NB-IoT data transmission directly from a standard cellular IoT module to a LEO satellite network, marking another step toward mass-market non-terrestrial networks.
The trial connected Nordic’s commercially available nRF9151 cellular IoT module to OQ Technology’s 3GPP-compliant NTN NB-IoT RAN and 5G core, proving that low-power, off-the-shelf cellular hardware can operate over LEO satellites without device redesign. From an NTN perspective, this validates Release 17 NB-IoT NTN in real-world conditions, using standard software stacks and spectrum-aligned architectures.
The news could be significant for satellite IoT scaling: developers can extend existing LTE-M and NB-IoT designs into global satellite coverage using the same module, firmware, and form factor. That lowers cost, simplifies certification, and accelerates deployment for applications such as asset tracking, smart metering, industrial monitoring, and critical infrastructure in areas beyond terrestrial reach.