Unraveling Efficient Data Transmission: Realizing NB-IoT with NTN using NIDD Technology
The world of satellite IoT connectivity is witnessing significant growth and development, with a focus on Non-Terrestrial Network Narrowband IoT (NTN NB-IoT) technology. This innovation adapts the terrestrial Narrow-Band IoT protocol to work over satellite links, providing coverage to remote, underserved locations where terrestrial networks are limited or absent.
Current developments in the field include collaborations and certifications, such as the partnership between Murata and Skylo to simplify NTN device development, and the first NTN-enabled chipsets certified for markets, enabling hybrid terrestrial and satellite IoT connectivity. Telit Cinterion is also offering 3GPP Release-17 compliant NB-IoT-over-NTN modules for industries like transportation, agriculture, and mining, combining satellite with cellular networks for ubiquitous coverage.
Satellite operators are pushing direct-to-device IoT services using satellite spectrum to bypass terrestrial network dependency. However, challenges remain, including costs, network congestion, lower data rates, higher latency, increased battery usage, antenna positioning, coverage, and increased complexity in deployments.
The market outlook and future trends indicate substantial growth but also incremental, phased adoption with measured expectations. The 5G NTN market, which includes NB-IoT-over-NTN, is expected to experience substantial revenue growth and high compound annual growth rates in the coming years, driven by increasing IoT device proliferation and the need for connectivity in rural and underserved regions, especially in North America.
Industry experts voice cautious optimism given the current regulatory, spectrum allocation, and technical maturity challenges; full-scale deployment is expected to be gradual with continued technical validations and market readiness advancing. Hybrid connectivity, blending Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite NB-NTN with terrestrial NB-IoT, is a key focus area for optimizing device design and network configuration, ensuring robust and cost-effective IoT solutions that maintain ubiquitous connectivity.
The expansion of standardized 5G NTN technologies (such as Release-17 NB-IoT-over-NTN) will enable broader industrial applications and use cases, including logistics, smart agriculture, and environmental monitoring, further expanding satellite IoT connectivity's role in the global 5G ecosystem.
NTN NB-IoT is cheaper than some proprietary satellite services but is more expensive than cellular NB-IoT. When fully mature as a technology, NTN NB-IoT will enable global IoT deployments for projects involving large numbers of simple, low power, low data devices spread across remote areas and across borders.
Until more satellite operators clarify their packet-size limits or introduce truly NIDD-capable services, many "tiny telemetry" applications will find themselves priced out of the savings NIDD could otherwise deliver. Currently, the satellite IoT market is dominated by proprietary modules. Analysts expect the growth in the satellite IoT market to come from standards-based, rather than proprietary, IoT connectivity.
The first full NIDD offerings won't arrive until H1 2026, when Viasat IoT Direct launches its satellite-only NB-IoT SIM. In the meantime, data optimization for NTN NB-IoT applications involves sending occasional small data packets to reduce signaling duration, battery energy usage, and satellite usage costs.
Two options for data transfer are provided by the industry: IP and Message-based protocols, with UDP/IP and NIDD (Non-IP Data Delivery) being the choices. The application running on the device, using COAP, adds 4 bytes of overhead, resulting in a payload of 22 bytes of data.
In summary, the NTN NB-IoT technology for satellite IoT connectivity is positioned for strong future growth, driven by 5G standardization, hybrid network deployments, and expanding industry partnerships. However, it is still in a "market discovery" or early adoption phase as technical and regulatory hurdles are addressed, yielding a dynamic but cautiously optimistic market environment with steadily improving global connectivity solutions for IoT in remote areas.
- The partnership between Murata and Skylo aims to simplify NTN device development, while Telit Cinterion offers 3GPP Release-17 compliant NB-IoT-over-NTN modules for various industries.
- Satellite operators are providing direct-to-device IoT services using satellite spectrum, but challenges persist, such as costs, network congestion, and increased complexity in deployments.
- The market outlook for the 5G NTN market, which includes NB-IoT-over-NTN, anticipates substantial revenue growth and high compound annual growth rates, driven by IoT device proliferation and the need for connectivity in rural areas.
- Full-scale deployment of 5G NTN technologies is expected to be gradual, with hybrid connectivity (combining Geostationary Earth Orbit satellite NB-NTN with terrestrial NB-IoT) being a key focus area for optimizing device design and network configuration.
- NTN NB-IoT can enable global IoT deployments for projects involving large numbers of simple, low power, low data devices spread across remote areas and borders, once fully mature as a technology.
- Until more satellite operators offer services with defined packet-size limits or NIDD-capable services, many small telemetry applications may struggle with affordability.
- The satellite IoT market is dominated by proprietary modules, but growth is expected to come from standards-based, rather than proprietary, IoT connectivity.
- In the satellite IoT market, data optimization involves sending occasional small data packets to reduce signaling duration, battery energy usage, and satellite usage costs.
- As NTN NB-IoT technology advances, it will impact various industries, including logistics, smart agriculture, and environmental monitoring, expanding satellite IoT connectivity's role in the global 5G ecosystem.
