Nordic Semiconductor drives successful 5G NB-IoT satellite demo with Omnispace and Gatehouse Satcom
2025
nRF9151 module proves reliable low power IoT connectivity over non-geostationary orbit satellite, unlocking new global use cases in remote areas
Nordic Semiconductor, a global leader in low-power wireless connectivity solutions, has participated in a successful 5G NB-IoT trial over a non-geostationary orbit satellite operated by Omnispace, the company redefining mobile connectivity for the 21st century. The demonstration, conducted with Omnispace and market-leading provider of satellite communications software Gatehouse Satcom, marks a key step toward bringing seamless, standards-based 5G IoT connectivity to remote and underserved areas.
Central to the trial was Nordic’s nRF9151 SiP module – the smallest cellular IoT module in the market, optimized for satellite communication and designed to meet the 3GPP NTN specifications. The integration of the nRF9151 will support a wide range of low-power 5G devices to reliably transmit and receive data over Omnispace’s S-band non-geostationary orbit satellite.
“Nordic is pleased to collaborate with Omnispace on integrating our nRF9151 module into a pioneering achievement for NB-IoT connectivity over their satellite,” says Kristian Sæther, Product Director, Long-Range at Nordic Semiconductor. “This breakthrough enables low-power IoT devices to connect via non-stationary satellites in remote or infrastructure-limited areas, supporting use cases such as asset tracking and remote monitoring.”
"This demonstration marks a key step in making global, seamless 5G IoT connectivity a reality," said Ram Viswanathan, CEO at Omnispace. “Working with Gatehouse Satcom and Nordic Semiconductor, we are demonstrating what’s possible for the future of global communications including powerful NGSO satellite solutions that seamlessly integrate with existing 5G terrestrial cellular networks.”
“We’ve engineered our 5G NTN NB-IoT NodeB to operate across GEO, MEO and LEO – and this demo with Omnispace proves its adaptability under real NGSO conditions,” said Jesper Noer, VP Commercial at Gatehouse Satcom. “It’s especially exciting to see the software perform in S-band, where transparent payload architectures introduce new technical dynamics. Omnispace brings a strong vision for interoperable, global coverage, and we’re proud to help turn that vision into practical, standards-based progress.”
This achievement expands the potential for low-power satellite IoT across industries like agriculture, utilities, environmental monitoring, and logistics – sectors where global, resilient connectivity is critical.