OQ Technology, the global pioneer in satellite 5G IoT and Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity, today announced a major industry milestone: the successful end-to-end NB-IoT connection and IoT data transmission from Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151 low-power cellular IoT module to its LEO satellite constellation.
Unlike other NTN demonstrations that rely on third party protocol stacks, OQ’s achievement is powered entirely by its 3GPP compliant NTN NB IoT RAN stack developed by OQ Technology and a fully operational and integrated 5G core network. This level of vertical integration gives OQ unparalleled control over performance, reliability, and service optimization across the full network chain which results in better user experience and low cost of ownership.
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 the world’s first NB-IoT physical-layer waveform test from LEO with our Tiger-1 mission in 2019, to becoming the first European company to broadcast D2D signals to standard mobile phones and now enabling a fully integrated NTN connection with a Nordic IoT module, OQ continues to set global benchmarks for 3GPP standardized satellite connectivity. Our verticalization in terms of both space hardware and software results in benefits to end users in terms of low cost and complexity that unlocks mass market roll out to all types of devices from trackers to vehicles and sensors, which are essential for enterprise and private industrial networks.”
OQ Technology’s vertically integrated NTN platform is engineered for mobile operators to extend their coverage beyond the cell tower and for demanding enterprise and private industrial applications requiring high reliability, security, and predictable performance thereby offering:
- Predictable quality of service (QoS) through fine-grained control of the radio link
- Optimized traffic and network management tailored to industrial needs
- High resilience across device, satellite, and cloud infrastructure
- Faster innovation cycles and new features without reliance on third-party vendors
This provides enterprises in remote or mission-critical sectors—such as energy, mining, logistics, agriculture, and environmental monitoring—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 waters lacking cellular coverage, OQ Technology’s global NTN constellation provides a critical, continuous connectivity layer for industries operating beyond the boundaries of terrestrial networks.
OQ Technology and Nordic Semiconductor will continue to work together to support MNOs, developers, OEMs, enterprise users, and industrial operators adopting the module for next-generation NTN-enabled IoT devices.
Source: https://www.oqtec.com/news/oq-technology-nordic-semiconductor-nb-iot-nrf9151
