The state of 5G NTN NB-IoT 2026

2025 marked a defining year for 5G NTN NB-IoT. Across the industry, demonstrations validated the potential of standardized narrowband IoT from orbit – and for the first time, the technology proved itself across LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits. With this, Gatehouse Satcom’s 5G NTN NB-IoT eNodeB has now operated in every orbital environment – a world-first milestone on the path to commercial readiness.

In this webinar, Gatehouse Satcom takes stock of how far 5G NTN NB-IoT has come and where it’s headed next.
VP Commercial Jesper Noer and Product Development Director Robert Van der Pool will revisit the highlights of 2025 – from lab-based demonstrations with leading satellite operators to the first in-orbit LEO validation of a standardized NB-IoT link, achieved together with industry partners.

They will also look ahead to 2026, where the transition from demonstrations to operational services is expected to accelerate, fuelled by new system integrations and the upcoming 3GPP Release 19. The webinar concludes by exploring how NB-IoT and 5G NR NTN may coexist in a future of hybrid satellite networks.

Key Takeaways

• A clear overview of 5G NTN NB-IoT’s progress as it enters 2026
• Insights from both lab-based and in-orbit demonstrations marking a global first across all orbital types
• Understanding how the Gatehouse Lab Kit accelerates validation and commercialization
• Preview of 3GPP Release 19 and its expected impact on NB-IoT NTN development
• Perspective on the growing interplay between NB-IoT and NR NTN in next-generation satellite IoT networks
• A clear picture of how Gatehouse Satcom continues to enable the transition from technology demonstration to operational service