TAMPA, Fla. — Sateliot, a Spanish company, has announced a breakthrough in satellite communications, achieving the first narrowband connection from a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite to a commercial Internet of Things (IoT) device compliant with global 5G standards (3GPP Release 17).
On October 7, the startup reported that it transmitted data from one of its four operational LEO satellites to an nRF9151, a low-power cellular module from Norway’s Nordic Semiconductor typically used in tracking and monitoring sensors. The connection utilized the same network protocols as a standard mobile network.
“For the first time, a LEO satellite under 3GPP Release 17 has successfully connected directly to a commercial IoT cellular device,” Sateliot chief technology officer Marco Guadalupi told SpaceNews. “This device was built in accordance with 3GPP Release 17 [non-terrestrial network (NTN)] standard definitions, and other manufacturers are expected to release similar devices following the same standard.”
Guadalupi stated that, in partnership with Danish software provider Gatehouse Satcom, they successfully sent an end-to-end message during the space demonstration using an nRF9151 without any hardware modifications. Specific details were not provided.
Unlike SpaceX, which connects smartphones through its Starlink LEO network using a proprietary method with cellular partners like T-Mobile in the U.S., Guadalupi emphasized that Sateliot’s service would integrate directly with existing mobile networks under open 5G protocols. This, he argues, facilitates “true interoperability and global roaming” across both terrestrial and satellite infrastructure.
“This achievement is the culmination of years of work,” he added, “not only in developing our own satellites, but also in actively contributing to the definition of the 5G standard through participation in dozens of industry working groups.”
Sateliot intends to distribute Nordic’s nRF9151 devices to companies participating in its early adopters program next year. The company has reportedly secured recurring contracts valued at 250 million euros ($272 million) with over 450 customers across more than 50 countries, aiming for 1 billion euros in annual revenue by 2030.
“In collaboration with a partner company, we are currently developing five additional satellites scheduled for launch in Oct 2026,” Guadalupi said via email. “And the plan is to launch 16 more in 2027 but details are not disclosed yet. Our long-term vision is to deploy a constellation comprising hundreds of satellites.” He added that Sateliot plans to share more information about its deployment plans in November.
The Barcelona-based company recently completed a 70 million euro Series B funding round earlier this year, including an investment from the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), a state-backed fund supporting strategic technologies.