Satellite IoT Connectivity using Nordic nRF9151 at Embedded World 2026

At Embedded World 2026, Nordic Semiconductor demonstrated how developers can bring satellite connectivity to IoT devices using its nRF9151 platform. The demo focused on non-terrestrial networks (NTN), which allow devices to communicate through satellites rather than relying solely on ground-based cellular towers. Using the nRF9151 SMA DK development board, Nordic showed how IoT hardware can transmit data through both geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites, enabling connectivity in locations where traditional cellular coverage is unavailable.

What Non-Terrestrial Networks Mean for IoT

Non-terrestrial networks refer to communication systems that operate through satellites instead of terrestrial cellular infrastructure. These networks typically rely on satellites in either geostationary orbit (GEO), which remain fixed relative to the Earth, or low Earth orbit (LEO), which move across the sky but can provide lower latency connections. For IoT developers, NTN offers a way to maintain communication in areas where conventional mobile networks cannot reach.

This capability is particularly valuable for devices deployed in remote environments such as mountains, agricultural land, or open oceans. In these locations, cellular towers may be too far away for reliable coverage. Satellite communication allows devices to send small amounts of data—such as sensor readings or location updates—back to cloud services even when there is no traditional network infrastructure nearby.

Inside the nRF9151 Cellular and Satellite Platform

The hardware behind Nordic’s demonstration was the nRF9151, a cellular IoT system-in-package designed for low-power connected devices. The chip integrates an LTE-M and NB-IoT modem alongside an Arm Cortex-M33 processor and security features in a single package. This architecture allows developers to build IoT devices capable of sending data through cellular networks while also supporting satellite-based connectivity.

By combining processing capability, cellular modem functionality, and GNSS positioning support into one device, the nRF9151 simplifies the design of connected hardware. Instead of integrating multiple discrete components, developers can build compact IoT systems that handle communication, location tracking, and application logic from a single chip while maintaining power efficiency.

The nRF9151 SMA DK Development Platform

To help developers evaluate the technology, Nordic provides the nRF9151 SMA DK, a development kit built around the nRF9151 system-in-package. The board includes debugging interfaces, connectors for development tools, and external SMA antenna ports that allow engineers to attach antennas suited for different satellite or cellular networks.

Satellite communication often requires specialised antenna designs depending on the type of satellite network being used. By exposing SMA connectors on the development board, the platform gives developers the flexibility to experiment with different antenna configurations while prototyping satellite-enabled IoT devices.

Satellite IoT Applications and Real-World Use Cases

During the demonstration, Nordic showed data from devices already deployed in the field communicating through satellites and reporting information to the cloud. The displayed telemetry included GPS location and device status, illustrating how connected hardware can send updates even when located far outside traditional network coverage.

This type of connectivity enables a range of applications including asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and emergency communication systems. Devices can operate on cellular networks when coverage is available and fall back to satellite links when they move beyond terrestrial infrastructure. For IoT deployments in remote regions, combining terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity provides a way to maintain reliable communication wherever devices are installed.

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