Nordic Semiconductor, a global contributor in low-power wireless connectivity solutions, has announced that its nRF9151 cellular IoT module has been certified for use on Skylo’s commercially-available non-terrestrial network (NTN). The certification ensures full compliance with Skylo’s satellite network spanning 36 countries and more than 60M sq km of coverage, enabling developers to build IoT devices that maintain connectivity even in areas without terrestrial coverage. This step extends Nordic’s cellular IoT portfolio to include NTN (satellite) support, giving original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a production-ready solution for global connectivity.
Industry perspective on the certification
“This certification is a turning point for true global IoT connectivity,” said Oyvind Birkenes, the EVP of Nordic’s Long Range Business Unit. “From the heart of a city to the most remote corner of the planet, developers can now build IoT devices that stay connected everywhere, with a fully certified, production-ready solution. This is how we accelerate innovation, expand our leadership in cellular IoT, and deliver on Nordic’s ambition to shape the future of a truly connected world.”
“The certification of the nRF9151 module marks a pivotal moment for the IoT ecosystem,” added Vijay Krishnan, the VP of strategic partnerships at Skylo Technologies. “By combining ultra–low-power, standards-based hardware with Skylo’s complementary non-terrestrial network, we’re enabling a new generation of connected devices that can operate seamlessly across geographies. This milestone underscores our commitment to accelerating innovation and empowering developers, OEMs, and enterprises to bring transformative solutions to market faster than ever.”
Implications for developers
With this certification, OEMs and developers can immediately integrate the nRF9151 module into production-ready designs for Skylo’s NTN. The nRF9151 dramatically simplifies development, reduces complexity, and accelerates time-to-market for IoT products across sectors such as logistics, smart agriculture, critical infrastructure and utilities – including in areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable.
Technical highlights of the nRF9151 module
The nRF9151 is Nordic’s all-in-one cellular IoT module, also supporting GEO and LEO NTN connectivity. Optimized for ultra-low-power operation, it is ideal for battery-powered IoT devices requiring long-range wireless communication. The module integrates a powerful application MCU, high-performance radio, and GNSS, supporting LTE-M, NB-IoT and 3GPP Release 17-compliant NTN (NB-NTN). This enables OEMs to build a single device capable of seamlessly switching between terrestrial cellular networks (TN) and satellite networks (NTN)—ensuring uninterrupted connectivity even in remote or underserved areas.
Developer resources and availability
To accelerate adoption and innovation of NTN-enabled applications, Nordic provides the nRF9151 SMA DK development kit. This kit is available through Nordic’s global distribution network. A pre-commercial modem firmware with NTN support is available for download here. The commercial firmware release is scheduled for early 2026 following additional certifications.
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