Nordic Semiconductor Launches The nRF9151 Software And Development Kit, Which Combines Satellite And Cellular Connectivity

SMA nRF9151 Development Kit: an ideal platform for creating cellular, DECT NR+ and NTN IoT solutions with robust RF performance

Oslo, Norway /PRNewswire/ - Nordic Semiconductor, a global leader in low-power wireless IoT connectivity, today announced the launch of the nRF9151 SMA development kit, designed specifically for RF engineers developing cellular, DECT NR+, and NTM (Non-Terrestrial Network) IoT applications. In addition to the hardware launch, Nordic has released new modem firmware that adds NTM (satellite) support to the nRF9151 module, marking Nordic's first step toward direct satellite communication.

Optimized for harsh environments
The nRF9151 SMA SDK is designed for rigorous radio frequency evaluation. It replaces internal antennas with SMA connectors, allowing engineers to directly connect high-performance external antennas or laboratory equipment for precise characterization. This makes it the platform of choice for developing and evaluating advanced cellular IoT, DECT NR+, and NTN systems where optimized RF performance is critical. Therefore, applications involving remote sites with weak digital signals, smart buildings with high node density, or industrial environments prone to RF attenuation are the primary use cases.

The new firmware adds NTN support for satellite IoT
This new modem firmware ensures satellite IoT communication by adding support for NB-IoT for non-terrestrial networks (NTN), in accordance with 3GPP Rel. 17. It also supports LTE-M and NB-IoT networks, as well as GNSS systems, making it a complete solution for developing and evaluating hybrid connectivity solutions.

“As engineers push the boundaries of wireless connectivity via satellite links, whether for IoT or DECT NR+, they need development tools that offer flexible and precise RF performance,” explains Kristian Sæther, Senior Director of Nordic Semiconductor’s Long-Range Division. “SMA’s nRF9151 SDK delivers exactly that, providing radio frequency experts with the level of precision needed to validate their most ambitious designs, especially in the complex RF environment of direct satellite communications.”

Designed for RF precision and flexibility
The nRF9151 SMA development kit offers maximum RF flexibility with SMA connectors for external antennas and direct connection to lab equipment, enabling accurate performance validation and precise power measurements. It has also been optimized to meet the latest standards, providing an ideal DECT NR+ and NTN development platform to ensure the best possible link performance for advanced projects.

Complete set of tools for rapid prototyping
This kit includes everything needed to perform immediate prototyping, including high-performance Taoglas (LTE/NTN/NR+) and Kyocera (GNSS) antennas, as well as IoT SIM cards and test data for instant terrestrial and satellite connectivity via Deutsche Telekom, Onomondo and Monogoto.

The nRF9151 SMA development kit is supported by Nordic's unified and scalable nRF Connect SDK , which provides a complete development environment for any application.

Available now
The nRF9151 SMA development kit is now available from Nordic's distribution partners. The alpha modem firmware can be downloaded for free here.