For the first time, NB-IoT devices will be able to connect directly to standard 5G satellites, without the need to modify hardware.
Campinas (SP), Brazil, September 4, 2025 – Brazil is moving toward a new era of connectivity through the collaboration between Sateliot, the first satellite operator to provide 5G connection for the Internet of Things (IoT) under an open standard, and CPQD, the national center of excellence in information and communication technology (ICT) innovation. The two entities have formed a strategic alliance to implement the first 5G NB-IoT satellite pilots in the country.
For the first time in Brazil, the agreement will allow 5G NB-IoT devices to connect directly to Sateliot’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, without needing to modify hardware or replace the SIM card. The connection will use a SIM from one of the country’s major mobile operators, thanks to the IPX integration completed with Sateliot, which works in collaboration with carriers to extend coverage where terrestrial networks cannot reach.
The 3GPP Release 17 standard will support this development, the latest international specification that enables “interoperability between terrestrial and satellite networks within the 5G ecosystem, ensuring NB-IoT devices can operate without hardware or software modifications.”
This opens the door for massive IoT adoption in environments without terrestrial infrastructure: from connected livestock, using smart ear tags to monitor the location and health of cattle; to safer logistics, with sensors installed in vehicles and cargo traveling through hard-to-access routes; and even environmental protection, with forest sensors capable of detecting fires in their early stages, enabling a faster and more effective response.
“Sateliot’s technology allows current NB-IoT devices to connect via satellite as if they were under terrestrial coverage. This revolutionizes access to global IoT networks and opens new frontiers for digital and operational inclusion in Brazil,” explains Stephan Bernard, Sateliot’s Head of Business Development.
Democratizing Connectivity in the Countryside and the Jungle
The first tests, part of Sateliot’s “Early Adopter Program,” will validate real-world use cases together with CPQD, making it the spearhead of this technology in Brazil. The program, focused on the Brazilian market, offers technical support and priority access to 5G NB-IoT satellite infrastructure for IoT device developers, integrators, and manufacturers.
With broad expertise in connectivity, mobile networks, and IoT solution development, CPQD plays a strategic role in consolidating the NTN (non-terrestrial networks) ecosystem in Brazil. The organization is engaged in the development and validation of emerging technologies based on the 3GPP standard, including NB-IoT and non-terrestrial networks. It also has laboratories and technical infrastructure capable of simulating adverse environments and testing device interoperability at scale. This makes CPQD a key partner in accelerating satellite 5G adoption in Brazil, contributing both technical knowledge and field-testing capacity for different IoT applications.
“This collaboration reinforces our role as an innovation center connected to major global trends. We are validating technologies that will position Brazil at the forefront of satellite IoT,” says Luis Renato Monte, CPQD’s Testing and Certification Manager.
Under this program, Sateliot has already signed contracts worth €270 million with more than 400 clients across 50+ countries worldwide, consolidating its position as a reference satellite operator in standard IoT. In Brazil, the company holds an official license to operate granted by Anatel and maintains a strategic alliance with ABINC, the Brazilian IoT Association, reinforcing its commitment to the local ecosystem.
