Nordic Semiconductor partners with Skylo for IoT expansion

Nordic Semiconductor and Skylo have announced a strategic partnership to certify Nordic's nRF9151 low-power cellular module on Skylo's satellite network service, aiming to expand massive IoT use cases via seamless satellite connectivity.

The nRF9151 module, recognised for its low power consumption and compact design, supports LTE-M, NB-IoT, and DECT NR+ modem alongside GNSS and cell-based location capabilities.

Oyvind Birkenes, Executive Vice President of Nordic's Long Range Business Unit, said, "By leveraging Skylo's existing, commercially available satellite network, we are today enabling connectivity anywhere." 

Skylo is noted for its Non-Terrestrial Network communications, which, together with the nRF9151 module, could provide connectivity options in areas beyond terrestrial network reach.

Tarun Gupta, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Skylo, said, "Partnering with Nordic exemplifies the kind of connectivity innovation we are proud to support at Skylo. We see strong demand from the market for satellite connectivity on low-power modules such as the award-winning nRF9151. This will enable device manufacturers to create innovative new products that stay connected far beyond the limits of terrestrial coverage."

"It's a significant step toward our vision of ubiquitous, seamless coverage for all devices, and we're excited to see the new massive IoT applications that will now be made possible from this partnership."

Device manufacturers aiming for global connectivity can achieve this with 3GPP-compliant, off-the-shelf cellular solutions, enabling new IoT applications such as remote monitoring, asset tracking, and safety enhancements. The collaboration between Nordic and Skylo paves the way for deploying devices in remote or off-grid environments, with the nRF9151 module acting as an enabler for these massive IoT solutions.

The partnership particularly emphasises benefits for industrial, consumer, and healthcare markets, where ultra-low-power satellite connectivity can expand product capabilities. Devices operating in areas without standard network coverage will now have increased connectivity potential using remnants of Skylo's standards-based 3GPP satellite network.

The collaboration will also feature at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona from March 3-6, 2025. Nordic plans to demonstrate full end-to-end connectivity with the nRF9151 module linked to Skylo's satellite network.