en.Wedoany.com Reported - Nordic Semiconductor has announced that its nRF9151 cellular IoT module has passed Skylo Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) certification; the LooUQ MTC2-N9151 embedded modem developed based on this module has also received certification simultaneously. This is the first embedded modem to obtain Skylo certification through module-level certification inheritance, enabling IoT product developers to shorten time-to-market.

The nRF9151 is Nordic Semiconductor's smallest and lowest-power cellular IoT module, integrating an open application MCU, LTE-M/NB-IoT or DECT NR+ modem, NB-NTN satellite support, and security features in a single package, eliminating the need for developers to add proprietary satellite hardware. Skylo operates as a standard 3GPP NB-NTN network and is accessible through mobile network operator partnerships, allowing certified devices to automatically roam between cellular networks and satellite coverage. The nRF9151 received Skylo certification earlier this year; a previous firmware release added full NTN satellite support to its LTE-M/NB-IoT solution, marking Nordic Semiconductor's first foray into direct-to-satellite communication from a standard cellular module.

Since certification resides at the module level, Michigan-based LooUQ, as a partner developing based on the nRF9151, has also inherited this certification; any product designed around the MTC2-N9151 can likewise inherit certification and be commercially deployed on Skylo's NTN service, automatically switching between satellite and cellular networks based on coverage without requiring application software changes. The MTC2-N9151 requires only two external components for integration into new products, and its NTN/TN antenna supports both terrestrial LTE and satellite 3GPP NB-NTN bands within a single element, eliminating the need for separate antenna tuning. Device manufacturers developing products based on the MTC2-N9151 can significantly reduce the testing effort required to obtain their own Skylo certification, avoiding duplication of work already completed by Nordic and LooUQ. LooUQ has been an official module partner in the Nordic Partner Program since 2025, providing carrier-grade device certification services.

Montana-based water technology company Remsight has already put this certified combination into practical use. Its HydroProxy platform uses the MTC2-N9151 to keep solar-powered sensors in remote irrigation infrastructure across the western United States connected, in areas where terrestrial cellular coverage has never been reliably available, giving water resource managers real-time visibility into systems that previously required manual inspection. Building on LooUQ's certification foundation, Remsight obtained Skylo certification with minimal additional testing.

LooUQ's MTC2-N9151 fully exposes all pin functions of the nRF9151 through the MTC.2 interface and comes with two development kits: the MTC2-N9151-BRK-KIT (breakout board) and the MTC2-N9151-UXP-KIT (with integrated voltage regulator and I²C-controlled RGB LED), allowing developers to begin over-the-air (OTA) testing immediately.

Kristian Sæther, Senior Director of Long-Range Products at Nordic Semiconductor, stated that the nRF9151 is designed to set a new standard for highly integrated, compact cellular IoT and dedicated 5G NR+ module solutions, and its support for LTE-M/NB-IoT, NB-NTN, and NR+, combined with advanced security and low-power design, makes it an ideal foundation for next-generation devices that need to operate anywhere in the world. Greg Terrell, CEO of LooUQ, stated that the MTC2-N9151 is positioned as a worry-free embedded modem, and Skylo certification means customers can commit to delivering a device that connects anytime, anywhere. Stephen McLaughlin, Co-founder and President of Remsight, stated that its customers cannot afford connectivity outages—a missed flow reading or delayed alarm could mean water supply failure or field flooding—and with the LooUQ MTC2-N9151 and Skylo's NTN network, HydroProxy sensors maintain continuous connectivity and keep transmitting data back.

Regarding availability, the nRF9151 has obtained global certifications and has been in supply since 2025; LooUQ's MTC2-N9151 and its accompanying development kits are now available from LooUQ for evaluation and production design-in.