Omnispace, Gatehouse Satcom and Nordic Semiconductor Demonstrate 5G NB-IoT Capability over Non-Geostationary S-band Satellite
TYSONS, Va., May 28 2025 – Omnispace, the company redefining mobile connectivity for the 21st century, Gatehouse Satcom, a market-leading provider of communications software for the satellite industry, and Nordic Semiconductor, a global leader in low-power wireless connectivity solutions, today announced the successful demonstration of a 5G narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system over an Omnispace S-band non-geostationary orbit satellite.
This milestone proves the viability of satellite-based 5G NB-IoT communications using NGSO satellites and transparent payload architectures.
5G NB-IoT signal transmitted over the Omnispace F2 NGSO satellite
As part of the demonstration, a 5G NB-IoT signal was successfully transmitted over the Omnispace F2 NGSO satellite. The trial demonstrated the successful transmission and reception of data by five terminals served by the Omnispace satellite.
The project builds upon the groundwork laid during Omnispace and Gatehouse Satcom’s initial feasibility study, and represents a significant advancement in enabling standards-based 5G IoT services over Non-Geostationary satellite based non-terrestrial networks (NTNs).
The demonstration utilized Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151 low-power SiP module – the smallest cellular IoT solution with industry-leading battery lifetime performance. The nRF9151 module features an integrated LTE-M/NB-IoT modem, and is designed for enhanced connectivity over satellite, or non-terrestrial networks (NTN). The solution from Nordic will support a wide range of 5G NB-IoT use cases, ensuring compatibility with emerging 3GPP standards for current and future satellite-integrated networks.
Demonstrating what’s possible for the future of global communications
“This demonstration marks a key step in making global, seamless 5G IoT connectivity a reality,” said Ram Viswanathan, CEO at Omnispace. “Working with Gatehouse Satcom and Nordic Semiconductor, we are demonstrating what’s possible for the future of global communications including powerful NGSO satellite solutions that seamlessly integrate with existing 5G terrestrial cellular networks.”
“We’ve engineered our 5G NTN NB-IoT NodeB to operate across GEO, MEO and LEO – and this demo with Omnispace proves its adaptability under real NGSO conditions,” said Jesper Noer, VP Commercial at Gatehouse Satcom. “It’s especially exciting to see the software perform in S-band, where transparent payload architectures introduce new technical dynamics. Omnispace brings a strong vision for interoperable, global coverage, and we’re proud to help turn that vision into practical, standards-based progress.”
“Nordic is pleased to collaborate with Omnispace on integrating our nRF9151 module into a pioneering achievement for NB-IoT connectivity over MEO and S-band,” says Kristian Sæther, Product Director, Long-Range at Nordic Semiconductor. “This breakthrough enables low-power IoT devices to connect via satellite in remote or infrastructure-limited areas, supporting use cases such as asset tracking, remote monitoring, and industrial IoT. We are excited about the potential of this solution to accelerate global IoT adoption across industries that rely on resilient and true global coverage.”
Unlocking IoT solutions
Satellite enabled NB-IoT solutions will unlock a host of reliable, cost-effective IoT solutions across sectors like smart agriculture, utility metering, environmental monitoring, asset tracking and remote infrastructure and logistics.
Learn more about Omnispace’s plans to provide 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity services and contact the company at Omnispace.com.
Headquartered in the Washington D.C. area, and founded by veteran telecommunications and satellite industry executives, Omnispace is redefining mobile connectivity for the 21st century. By leveraging 5G technologies, the company is combining the global footprint of a non-geostationary satellite constellation with the mobile networks of the world’s leading telecom companies to bring an interoperable “one network” connectivity to users and IoT devices anywhere on the globe.
Gatehouse Satcom is a Denmark-based software company delivering advanced protocol stacks and test tools for 3GPP-compliant satellite communication. Specializing in Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), including 5G NTN NB-IoT and New Radio (NR), Gatehouse Satcom supports both transparent and regenerative satellite architectures. The company collaborates with leading satellite operators, device manufacturers, and integrators to accelerate the development and deployment of global, standards-based satellite connectivity. With over 20 years of experience, Gatehouse Satcom plays a key role in shaping the future of interoperable, mission-critical communication from space.
Nordic Semiconductor is a global leader in low-power wireless connectivity solutions, enabling world-leading technologies, including cellular IoT (NB-IoT/LTE-M), NTN, DECT NR+, Bluetooth Low Energy, ANT+, Wi-Fi, Matter, Thread, and Zigbee. Beyond wireless semiconductors, Nordic provides a complete ecosystem of complementary components – such as power management and range extenders – along with cloud services, world-class technical support, and intuitive software and development tools for seamless product development. Nordic is trusted worldwide for its high performance and ultra-low power consumption. With decades of innovation, Nordic continues to lead in Bluetooth LE while accelerating the evolution of the entire low-power wireless solutions ecosystem.
Other news
Let’s get in touch
Get in touch with us to learn how embedded satellite communications software can enable your roadmap to compete in the rapidly evolving market for connectivity. You can contact us with any specific inquiries or to set up a meeting.
We look forward to hearing from you and to discuss your satellite communications software needs.