LPWA on the Launchpad: NTN Boosts LTE-M and NB-IoT Opportunity

In June 2022, the specifications for Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Internet of Things (IoT) were finalized as part of The 3rd Generation Partnership Project’s (3GPP) Release 17, with the goal of bringing satellite-based connectivity to devices operating in locations with limited-to-no cellular network access. Since then, we have seen the arrival of the first NTN chipsets: in November 2022, Sony Semiconductor launched the ALT1350 System-on-Chip (SoC), supporting Cat-M and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and offering hybrid Low-Power Wide Area (LPWA) and satellite connectivity. In August 2023, Qualcomm announced that the MDM9205S SoC had undergone a firmware revision to support NTN, alongside Cat-M, NB-IoT and 2G fallback. Qualcomm has also released the QCX212S, which supports LTE Cat-NB2 and Rel.17 NB-IoT over NTN.

With chips now commercially available, we have seen the development of the first NTN-IoT LPWA modules, and certification procedures are now underway with NTN service providers. A series of notable partnerships based on Cat-M and NB-IoT have taken place. In February 2023, Sony Semiconductor partnered with Japanese module manufacturer Murata and NTN service provider Skylo to showcase Murata’s Type 1SC module connecting directly to the existing satellites of Skylo’s aggregate partner constellation, using the ALT1350. In March 2024, Sierra Wireless upgraded its HL7812 and HL7810 modules to support NTN over NB-IoT, which it says targets Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications.

In China, Fibocom launched the MA510 module at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai in June 2024, integrating Qualcomm’s MDM9205S, while Quectel unveiled the BG95-S5 in April 2024, with certification procedures underway for Skylo’s NTN network. Also, SIMCom has released two NTN modules, the Cat-M and NB-IoT-based SIM7070G-HP-S, and the SIM7022 module with NB-IoT-only. Finally, in August 2024, Telit Cinterion announced that its ME310M1-W1 module, which supports NTN alongside Cat-M and NB-IoT, had received approval for use on AT&T’s Cat-M network. With six cellular module vendors marketing NTN-enabled LPWA products and actively promoting the opportunity afforded by cheaper satellite connectivity, they will be hoping NTN proves to be a decisive feature in demonstrating the value of Cat-M and NB-IoT, beyond that of the lowest-power, lowest-cost technology.

LPWA modules are integrated into IoT devices requiring minimal power consumption, with NB-IoT being used to connect stationary devices, and Cat-M mobile devices. Due to the fragmented coverage from one country to the next, device Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) cannot guarantee worldwide support to their Cat-M and NB-IoT customers. Unlike Cat-1, which is available wherever LTE is available, Cat-M and NB-IoT availability is highly region-specific, often necessitating 2G fallback to mitigate connectivity gaps for mobile devices that need to move across regional boundaries. Furthermore, cellular networks only cover around 20% of the Earth’s surface.

In hard-to-reach environments, the construction and maintenance of cellular infrastructure may be an uneconomical logistical challenge; devices integrating traditional cellular LPWA modules, even with 2G fallback, cannot guarantee reliable network coverage. On the other hand, we have seen growth in connected Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM) and asset tracking devices that transcend the boundaries of terrestrial networks, requiring coverage on land, at sea, or in the air. Business-critical asset tracking requires highly reliable backup connectivity to fully optimize supply chain analytics to pool data from freight trucks, cargo planes, and container vessels.

3GPP Release 17 addressed these challenges by standardizing supporting NTNs over NB-IoT, enabling IoT devices to communicate directly via satellites. In this way, device OEMs can be assured of ubiquitous coverage, providing backup connectivity in areas with where terrestrial networks are either unreliable, compromised, or absent altogether. Standalone cellular LPWA devices must be within range of a cellular base station, but NTN-enabled devices can transmit data to satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), which module manufacturers say secures connectivity in a number of business-critical applications. SIMCom claims that  NTN can “expand its reach across various sectors, including maritime, transportation, agriculture, and energy,” while Norbert Muhrer, President and Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Quectel Wireless Solutions says, “we expect to see the BG95-S5 deployed in devices from wireless point of sale equipment to asset management, heavy industry, and wearable devices.”

Additionally, there is the opportunity to extend the scope of LPWA applications. With reliable global coverage, NTN may unlock new opportunities to track climate patterns, and even monitor, predict, and mitigate the effects of natural disasters. In the wake of such events, where cellular networks may be compromised, NTNs can provide reliable backup connectivity to help inform emergency services’ evacuation and relief efforts, by utilizing sensor data from devices on the ground. NTN support does not require any additional hardware, only a modem firmware update. As Michael Buonassisi, Director Product Management LPWA modules at Semtech said of its HL7812 and HL7810 modules: “By incorporating NTN support into our HL78 modules via a straightforward software update, we are enhancing the capabilities of our existing products, providing our customers with a substantial competitive edge.”

NTN is still effectively brand new, but the latest market developments raise some pertinent considerations for stakeholders within the LPWA ecosystem:

Module manufacturers that have not yet integrated NTN within their design roadmaps should consider doing so, if they are expecting to pursue cellular LPWA in the long run. Despite initial hype, the uptake of LPWA modules has been disappointing, and NTN provides an additional layer of value for longer lifecycle battery-powered devices that require optimized connectivity technology, while retaining the advantages of low-power consumption and low cost. For customers that have been dissuaded from migrating to Cat-M and NB-IoT because of fragmented coverage, NTN may be the decisive feature in making LPWA a worthwhile strategic investment for IoT device OEMs.

IoT device OEMs that are already using LPWA modules should explore new opportunities for Research and Development (R&D) afforded by more ubiquitous network coverage. Existing LPWA device manufacturers in business-critical domains should consider upgrading to NTN in the near term. Asset tracking devices and those pertaining to maritime, transportation, agriculture, and energy applications should also consider earlier adoption of NTN modules to ensure reliable backup connectivity. Simultaneously, manufacturers can extend the scope of the IoT’s traditional boundaries by developing systems that can remain operational in remote locations, adverse climates, or during natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.

Finally, the relevant 3GPP work groups should continue to enhance the NTN standard to ensure that satellite coverage is sufficiently reliable as backup connectivity. Device manufacturers will want to be assured of the integrity of NTNs before committing to new design roadmaps. Further iterations should address the challenges that are unique to non-terrestrial communication, including the orbital speed and positioning of LEO satellites, managing higher Doppler shifts, and optimizing beam management.