Telenor IoT and Sateliot partner on NB-IoT over LEO satellites

TL;DR: Telenor IoT and Sateliot said on 28 May 2026 that they partnered to let compatible NB-IoT devices use both terrestrial cellular networks and Sateliot's low Earth orbit satellite network. The companies said the approach uses 3GPP Release 17 Non-Terrestrial Network specifications and does not require proprietary satellite hardware for devices that support the standard. They also said field tests in Spain kept Telenor IoT SIM cards connected to Sateliot's satellite network for extended periods, with further tests planned in several countries.

Telenor IoT and Sateliot said on 28 May 2026 that they formed a partnership to enable standard NB-IoT devices to move between terrestrial cellular coverage and Sateliot's low Earth orbit satellite network. The companies said the setup targets IoT deployments in areas outside conventional mobile coverage, including offshore waters, mountain regions, remote farmland, industrial sites, pipelines, and logistics routes.

Sateliot's network is based on 3GPP Release 17 5G Non-Terrestrial Network specifications, which extend cellular standards to satellite connectivity. The companies said devices can connect without proprietary satellite hardware, custom antennas, or special firmware, provided the devices support Release 17 NTN. They did not say that existing NB-IoT devices already deployed in the field would automatically gain satellite connectivity.

The companies said field tests in Spain showed that Telenor IoT SIM cards could stay connected to Sateliot's satellite network for extended periods. They said further testing is planned in several countries. The announcement did not include a commercial launch date, pricing, latency figures, or a list of supported device models.

Related questions

• What did Telenor IoT and Sateliot announce on 28 May 2026?
• Which standard supports the Telenor IoT and Sateliot satellite NB-IoT approach?
• Do existing NB-IoT devices automatically gain Sateliot satellite coverage?
• Where have Telenor IoT and Sateliot conducted field tests?