Barcelona, Spain – March 2, 2026 – Nordic Semiconductor today announced a significant expansion of its cellular IoT product line, unveiling new technologies designed to address the growing demand for secure and globally connected devices. The company’s next-generation portfolio includes Cat 1 bis, satellite NTN (Near-Term Non-Terrestrial), advanced LTE-M/NB-IoT with edge AI capabilities, and a roadmap towards 5G eRedCap, aiming to provide resilient connectivity for billions of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This move underscores Nordic’s commitment to becoming a leading force in the evolving cellular IoT landscape, offering developers a comprehensive platform for building and deploying connected solutions.
The announcement, made at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, details a platform expansion built upon the foundation of Nordic’s existing nRF91 Series. This expansion introduces two new product series – the nRF92 and nRF93 Series – alongside enhancements to the nRF91 Series itself. Vegard Wollan, CEO at Nordic Semiconductor, stated the company is “building the next era of cellular IoT, and…expanding our portfolio to give developers the most trusted, power-efficient, and scalable connectivity platform for billions of devices worldwide.” The core goal, according to Wollan, is to simplify the process of creating, deploying, and scaling globally connected products, from the chip level to the cloud infrastructure.
New Product Series: nRF92 and nRF93
The nRF92 Series represents a leap forward in cellular connectivity, positioning itself as the smallest, most highly integrated, and power-efficient cellular solution available. It integrates a high-performance application MCU, coupled with ultra-low-power edge AI processing through Nordic’s Axon Neural Processing Units (NPUs). The nRF92 incorporates a multi-constellation GNSS receiver, Wi-Fi locationing capabilities, and sensor co-processing, opening up possibilities for applications requiring extended battery life – potentially spanning multiple years – such as smart meters, asset trackers, industrial sensors, and wearable devices. Lead customer sampling for the nRF92 Series is currently underway, with general availability anticipated in early 2027.
Complementing the nRF92, the nRF93 Series, specifically the nRF93M1 module, offers a higher throughput solution with downlink speeds of up to 10 Mbps and uplink speeds of 5 Mbps. This module provides robust performance, global LTE support, and integrated Wi-Fi location capabilities, all while maintaining Nordic’s reputation for low-power consumption and a compact form factor. The nRF93M1 is optimized for applications like asset tracking, fleet management, security systems, advanced metering infrastructure, and consumer electronics, offering a streamlined alternative to traditional LTE Cat 1 bis designs. Notably, the nRF93M1 is fully integrated with the nRF Cloud platform, providing features like Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA) updates, observability tools, remote debugging, and location services. Lead customers are already developing products utilizing the nRF93M1, with general availability slated for mid-2026.
Enhanced nRF91 Series and Future 5G Roadmap
Nordic is also enhancing its existing nRF91 Series, with the nRF9151 module now incorporating 3GPP-compliant GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) and LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite NTN connectivity. This addition is crucial for applications in logistics, smart agriculture, energy management, and remote infrastructure, where terrestrial network coverage may be limited or unavailable. The nRF9151 also includes sub-GHz fallback functionality, ensuring continued connectivity even when public networks are inaccessible.
Alongside the nRF9151, Nordic is introducing the nRF91M1 module, a compact and user-friendly Smart Modem solution designed for customers seeking a quick and easy way to add cellular connectivity to their products. The nRF91M1 leverages Nordic’s established low-power modem stack, an AT-command interface, and secure cloud integration, making it ideal for traditional host-modem architectures and accelerating time-to-market. Looking ahead, Nordic is actively collaborating with lead customers on next-generation 5G eRedCap (enhanced Reduced Capability) technologies, laying the foundation for ultra-low-power 5G connectivity and expanding the scope of potential IoT applications.
The Rise of NTN and its Impact on IoT
The integration of satellite NTN connectivity into the nRF9151 is a particularly noteworthy development. NTN allows devices to communicate directly with satellites, bypassing the necessitate for traditional terrestrial cellular infrastructure. This is especially valuable in remote areas, maritime environments, and for applications requiring ubiquitous coverage. According to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the standards body responsible for cellular technologies, NTN is becoming increasingly important for extending the reach of IoT networks. 3GPP has been actively working on standards to support NTN, paving the way for wider adoption of this technology.
Implications for the IoT Ecosystem
Nordic Semiconductor’s expanded portfolio has significant implications for the broader IoT ecosystem. By offering a comprehensive range of cellular IoT solutions, from low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN) to higher-bandwidth options, Nordic is catering to a diverse set of application requirements. The integration of edge AI capabilities into the nRF92 Series allows for localized data processing, reducing latency and improving privacy. The focus on low-power consumption is also critical, as it enables the development of battery-powered devices that can operate for extended periods without requiring frequent maintenance.
Oyvind Birkenes, EVP Long-Range at Nordic Semiconductor, emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion, stating that it “marks a defining moment for Nordic’s long-range strategy.” He believes that the unified portfolio provides developers with the clarity, confidence, and long-term roadmap they need to navigate the evolving landscape of cellular IoT. The company’s commitment to supporting both current and emerging technologies, such as 5G eRedCap, positions it as a key player in shaping the future of connected devices.
The company will be showcasing its new products and technologies at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, Hall 7, Booth 7B51 (March 2–6), and at Embedded World 2026, Nuremberg, Hall 4A, Booth 310 (March 10–12). These events will provide opportunities for developers and industry professionals to learn more about Nordic’s offerings and explore potential applications.
As the IoT continues to expand into new areas, the demand for reliable, secure, and low-power connectivity solutions will only increase. Nordic Semiconductor’s latest product releases demonstrate its commitment to meeting these challenges and enabling the next generation of connected devices. The availability of the nRF93M1 in mid-2026 and the nRF92 Series in early 2027 will be key milestones to watch as the industry adopts these new technologies. Further updates on the 5G eRedCap development are expected throughout 2026, providing insights into the future of ultra-low-power 5G connectivity.
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