Validating a mainstream Nordic cellular IoT chipset over a 3GPP-compliant NTN removes a major barrier between terrestrial LPWAN deployments and satellite coverage.
It signals that existing NB-IoT device designs can be extended to LEO networks without hardware respins, which accelerates OEM roadmaps and reduces integration risk for operators planning hybrid terrestrial–non-terrestrial footprints.
OQ’s fully in-house NTN stack also challenges reliance on third-party satellite waveform vendors, potentially reshaping value chains and pricing power.
Collectively, this points to NB-IoT over NTN maturing from proofs-of-concept into a viable mass-market connectivity layer for global IoT.
End-to-end NB-IoT connectivity via LEO satellites validates mass-market cellular IoT readiness for 3GPP-compliant NTN networks
OQ Technology, a pioneering European IoT and direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity provider with 60 MHz of MSS S-band spectrum rights, has certified Nordic Semiconductor’s low-power nRF9151 cellular IoT chipset for use on its 3GPP-compliant NTN network.
This follows an end-to-end NB-IoT connection and IoT data transmission from the nRF9151 to an OQ Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite, confirming that the module can operate over OQ’s network with no hardware changes or software updates required. This significantly expands OQ’s global addressable IoT device ecosystem for satellite connectivity.
This achievement follows OQ Technology’s recent announcement of becoming the first European satellite operator to demonstrate a D2D emergency broadcast message delivered from space directly to unmodified smartphones (iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel). Together, these two milestones reflect the continued development of OQ’s D2D and IoT capabilities, significantly expand the company’s addressable markets, and underscore OQ’s growing leadership in advancing 3GPP-compliant satellite connectivity technology.
Unlike other NTN demonstrations that rely on third-party protocol stacks, OQ’s achievement is enabled by its in-house developed, end-to-end NTN NB-IoT technology stack, including its own 3GPP-compliant RAN and integrated 5G core. This vertical integration across the NTN software stack, spectrum filings, landing rights, and OQ’s satellite operations gives the company greater control over performance, reliability, and service optimization, resulting in a better user experience and lower cost of ownership for customers while supporting efficient large-scale deployment.
The test verified that Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF915 IoT module can connect directly to OQ’s satellites without hardware modifications. This demonstrates the readiness of low-power, mass-market standard compliant NTN IoT for broad commercial deployment.
Nordic Semiconductor is a global leader in low-power wireless solutions, trusted across the IoT industry for highly efficient and reliable modules. Nordic’s cellular IoT technology supports LTE-M/NB-IoT with exceptional energy efficiency, robust industrial performance, and global band compatibility. This collaboration confirms that a mainstream, widely adopted cellular IoT module can operate seamlessly over a 5G NTN satellite network, enabling large-scale device adoption worldwide.
“Reliable connectivity beyond terrestrial networks is critical for industries in remote areas,” said Kristian Sæther, Senior Product Director, Long-Range BU at Nordic Semiconductor.
“With our nRF9151 module connecting directly to OQ’s LEO satellites, customers can extend coverage without redesigning hardware—simplifying deployment and reducing cost.”
“This breakthrough reflects years of NTN innovation at OQ,” said Omar Qaise, Founder & CEO of OQ Technology. “From our NB-IoT waveform test from LEO in 2019 to becoming the first European satellite operator to deliver a D2D emergency broadcast message to standard smartphones, and now enabling a fully integrated NTN connection with a Nordic IoT module, OQ continues to advance 3GPP-standardized satellite connectivity. Our vertical integration across the NTN software stack and our satellite operations reduces cost and complexity for customers and supports large-scale deployment of IoT devices across government, enterprise, and private industrial networks.”
OQ Technology’s vertically integrated NTN platform is engineered for mobile operators, enterprises, and governments that need reliable connectivity beyond the limits of terrestrial networks. It delivers predictable performance through fine-grained control of the radio link and optimized traffic and network management for demanding use cases, thereby offering:
- Predictable quality of service (QoS) through fine-grained control of the radio link
- Optimized traffic and network management tailored to government and industrial needs
- High resilience and security across device, satellite, and cloud infrastructure
- Faster innovation cycles and new features without reliance on third-party vendors
This enables enterprises operating in remote or mission-critical sectors—such as energy, mining, logistics, agriculture, and environmental monitoring—to achieve a level of reliability and performance not possible with partially outsourced NTN solutions. With more than 75 percent of the world’s landmass and maritime areas lacking cellular coverage, OQ Technology’s global NTN constellation provides a continuous connectivity layer for industries operating beyond the boundaries of terrestrial networks.
OQ Technology and Nordic Semiconductor will continue to collaborate to support MNOs, developers, OEMs, governments, enterprises, and industrial operators adopting the module for next-generation NTN-enabled IoT devices.
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