A new direct 5G IoT transmission from space has been established as Sateliot and Nordic Semiconductor enabled standard IoT devices to connect with Sateliot’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This advancement unlocks global coverage for IoT devices without requiring hardware modifications, potentially changing how industries manage devices worldwide. With terrestrial networks reaching only a fraction of the planet, the new connectivity options could reach distant and rural areas. Sateliot, Nordic, and Gatehouse Satcom joined forces to make this solution meet the 5G NB-IoT Release 17 standard, which could alter market competition and international communication capabilities. Some industry observers see this as a strong step toward more accessible satellite-based IoT connectivity.
Unlike previous IoT satellite ventures that often required proprietary hardware or custom protocols, Sateliot’s collaboration lets standard commercial IoT devices, such as those using the nRF9151 module from Nordic, directly connect to space networks with no new adaptations. Companies such as Starlink and Iridium have offered different satellite services, but seamless interoperability between terrestrial and space IoT networks at this scale has not been previously realized for conventional cellular modules. Past attempts mainly focused on custom devices or provided limited functionality, but this move extends the promise of worldwide sensor and machine connectivity.
How Did Sateliot and Partners Achieve Space-Based 5G IoT Connectivity?
Sateliot worked with Nordic Semiconductor and Gatehouse Satcom to demonstrate an end-to-end message sent by a Nordic nRF9151 cellular IoT module via Sateliot’s LEO constellation. The message transmission went through without any changes to device hardware. This proof of concept confirms compatibility with 5G NB-IoT Release 17, illustrating that widely available cellular modules can function on both ground and space-based infrastructure seamlessly. The partners emphasize that such validation will permit the rapid extension of IoT applications across transportation, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure management.
What Benefits Can Global IoT Connectivity Bring?
By enabling commercial IoT modules to communicate directly with satellites, sectors that depend on remote operations—such as logistics, agriculture, and energy—will gain persistent coverage even in areas with weak or no mobile networks. This direct link also stands to help governments, enterprises, and emergency responders deploy and manage assets globally without gaps in monitoring. Nordic Semiconductor’s executive Oyvind Birkenes said,
“The lack of global and harmonized coverage has held back the IoT and M2M markets for years. With this breakthrough, it will be possible to create low-power devices with satellite connectivity and accelerate deployments across many key use cases.”
This highlights the anticipated rise in new connected solutions globally.
What Is the Significance for Europe’s Telecommunications Landscape?
Sateliot’s demonstration is notable for positioning Europe at the center of international satellite-based IoT standardization. By proving standard, low-cost sensors can now have resilient connectivity from any location, it strengthens Europe’s ability to compete and stay secure in next-generation communications. Sateliot has already reported contracts across 50 countries and plans for extensive revenue growth. Jaume Sanpera, Sateliot’s CEO, framed it as a major step, stating,
“We are facing a technological, commercial, and strategic milestone, comparable to Starlink’s first connection with a mobile phone, and one that proves Europe can also lead the democratization of connectivity from Space.”
Looking at industry developments over recent years, companies have pursued space-based IoT with launches and early connectivity tests, but broad interoperability with standard, widely used hardware remained out of reach. Several previous demonstrations involved proprietary solutions or were restricted to pilot phases with limited applications. Sateliot’s announcement differentiates itself by using the nRF9151 module—a mass-market product—and following existing 5G NB-IoT standards, signaling a more immediate practical impact and scalability for customers already invested in cellular IoT devices.
Satellite IoT connectivity stands to change how organizations manage global operations, but cost, regulatory challenges, and device certification are likely to affect rollout speed. For readers, this shift underscores the importance of standards-based solutions in IoT planning, as devices able to natively switch between ground and satellite networks could soon become the norm. It may pay for organizations to evaluate hardware compatibility with both terrestrial and orbital systems, and to watch how satellite network access pricing develops. Tech adopters should keep an eye on similar 5G satellite-IoT efforts worldwide, as integration timelines and support from mobile network operators will influence the pace at which end users see practical benefits.
