Nordic Semiconductor and OQ Technology Showcase Direct NTN LEO Satellite Connectivity

Key Takeaways

Nordic Semiconductor has achieved successful NB-IoT connectivity from its nRF9151 module to OQ Technology’s LEO satellite constellation.
The nRF9151 allows seamless global coverage for IoT applications without the need for hardware redesigns.
This collaboration highlights the potential for scalable, 3GPP-compliant NTN adoption across various sectors.

New Era for Non-Terrestrial Network IoT

Nordic Semiconductor, a leader in low-power wireless connectivity, has recently announced a significant breakthrough in non-terrestrial network (NTN) IoT technology. The company has successfully established end-to-end NB-IoT connectivity using its nRF9151 cellular IoT module, enabling direct data transmission to OQ Technology’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.

This achievement means that the commercially available nRF9151 module, which operates on Nordic’s standard cellular IoT software stack, is now capable of connecting to OQ Technology’s fully integrated 3GPP-compliant NTN NB-IoT Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G core network. By showcasing the ability of compact, low-power, mass-market cellular IoT modules to link seamlessly with NTN LEO satellite networks, Nordic is paving the way for an era of global IoT connectivity without requiring extensive hardware redesign.

According to Kristian Sæther, Nordic’s Senior Product Director for the Long-Range Business Unit, there is a clear demand from customers for a single solution that ensures broad coverage, even beyond terrestrial limits. With the integration of the nRF9151 module with OQ’s satellite system, developers can extend IoT coverage easily while minimizing deployment costs.

The nRF9151 module supports both terrestrial LTE-M and NB-IoT, providing extensive band coverage in a compact size. Notable for its long battery life and industrial-grade performance, the module proves ideal for applications such as asset tracking, smart metering, industrial monitoring, and critical infrastructure. It has already gained certification from two Geostationary (GEO) satellite network providers and has successfully undergone testing with multiple LEO satellite networks, showcasing its versatility in extending cellular IoT designs into NTN.

This development stems from collaborative efforts between Nordic and OQ Technology. Omar Qaise, CEO of OQ Technology, emphasized that the combination of Nordic’s advanced module and software with OQ’s in-house developed 3GPP NTN RAN stack demonstrates that standard NB-IoT devices can effectively be adapted for satellite connectivity on a large scale. This milestone is pivotal for facilitating the widespread adoption of NTN technologies across various sectors, including sensors, trackers, and industrial equipment.

Going forward, Nordic and OQ Technology plan to continue their collaboration, aimed at assisting mobile network operators, developers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and enterprises. Their goal is to design and implement the next generation of NTN-enabled IoT devices, leveraging standard NB-IoT technology for reliable global coverage.

The content above is a summary. For more details, see the source article.