What Nordic Semiconductor does

Nordic Semiconductor ASA is a Norwegian fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Trondheim, founded in 1983 and publicly traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: NOD). The company designs and sells ultra-low-power wireless connectivity solutions for the Internet of Things, spanning Bluetooth LE SoCs (nRF52, nRF53, nRF54L Series), cellular IoT modules (nRF91 Series, plus the announced nRF92 and nRF93 Series), power management ICs, RF front-end modules, and the new nRF54LM20B SoC integrating an Axon Neural Processing Unit for on-device AI. Its technology stack combines hardware with the nRF Connect SDK (built on Zephyr RTOS) and the nRF Cloud platform (powered by the June 2025 Memfault acquisition), forming a chip-to-cloud offering that targets consumer wearables, smart home, connected health, and industrial IoT/asset tracking segments.

Nordic's go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with a global authorized distributor network (Farnell, element14, DigiKey, Braemac) and a developer-led motion through DevZone, the Nordic Tech Webinar series, Nordic Academy, and AI-assisted development tooling delivered via MCP servers integrating with Claude, Cursor, and Copilot. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of SoCs, SiPs, and modules, with emerging recurring software revenue from nRF Cloud subscriptions ($0.10/device/month, free up to 10 devices) and the Lifetime FOTA perpetual license priced from $1 per device.

Recent strategic activity includes the acquisitions of Atlazo (2023), Mobile Semiconductor (2023), Neuton (June 2025), and Memfault (June 2025); the launch of the Axon NPU-enabled nRF54LM20B and the nRF92/nRF93 cellular roadmap at MWC 2026; a constellation of satellite NTN partnerships with Iridium, Skylo, OQ Technology, Sateliot, Deutsche Telekom, Myriota, and Omnispace; founding membership in the Quintauris RISC-V joint venture with Bosch, Infineon, NXP, Qualcomm, and STMicroelectronics; and the establishment of a 'Make in India' module partnership with IndieSemiC. Leadership additions in 2026 include Christer Roth as EVP Strategy and Corporate Development and Jo Uthus as EVP Marketing and Developer Experience, formalizing a platform- and M&A-led growth posture.

Name

Nordic Semiconductor

Legal name

Nordic Semiconductor ASA

Website

https://nordicsemi.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Nordic Semiconductor is a Norwegian fabless semiconductor company designing ultra-low-power wireless SoCs, cellular IoT modules, and a chip-to-cloud platform (nRF Connect SDK + nRF Cloud) for consumer wearables, healthcare, smart home, and industrial IoT OEMs globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wireless IoT Semiconductors

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Wi‑Fi 6/6E/7 Infrastructure & Multi‑Gig Switching for WLAN (HDAFACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wireless Interface Adapters (Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/Cellular Modems) (HDAFAEAJ), Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS) (HDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Wireless IoT semiconductors
• Ultra-low-power SoCs
• Bluetooth LE silicon
• Cellular IoT modules
• Edge AI accelerators

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wireless Semiconductor Hardware Sales: Nordic Semiconductor generates revenue primarily through the sale of wireless connectivity chips, modules, and SiPs. The product portfolio includes Bluetooth LE SoCs (nRF52, nRF53, nRF54 series), cellular IoT modules (nRF91 series), and development kits. Revenue is generated through direct sales to enterprise customers and through distributor networks globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nordic Semiconductor designs and sells ultra-low-power wireless connectivity semiconductors for the Internet of Things. Its portfolio spans Bluetooth LE, Thread, Zigbee, Matter, LTE-M/NB-IoT cellular, and satellite NTN SoCs and SiPs (nRF52, nRF53, nRF54, nRF91, nRF92, nRF93 series), paired with the nRF Connect SDK (built on Zephyr RTOS) and the nRF Cloud device-management platform. Recent additions include the Axon NPU and Neuton ultra-tiny AI models for on-device edge AI, plus AI-assisted development tools and lifetime FOTA services for regulatory compliance.

Product overview

Nordic Semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor company offering ultra-low-power wireless connectivity solutions for IoT applications. The product portfolio centers on the nRF Connect SDK (unified software development kit built on Zephyr RTOS) and nRF Cloud (chip-to-cloud platform for device management, FOTA, observability, and location services). The SoC/module line spans multiple wireless protocols: Bluetooth LE (nRF52, nRF53, nRF54L Series), cellular IoT LTE-M/NB-IoT/satellite NTN (nRF91 Series), and the new nRF92/nRF93 cellular series. Edge AI capabilities are delivered via Axon NPU (in nRF54LM20B) and Neuton ultra-tiny models. AI-assisted development extends across the entire product lifecycle via Nordic MCP servers. The portfolio includes power management ICs (nPM1300/1304), RF front-end modules (nRF21540), and development kits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• nRF Connect SDK: Unified software development kit for Nordic wireless devices
• nRF Cloud
• Neuton
• Axon NPU

Products and services

• nRF54LM20B SoC Ultra-low-power wireless SoC with integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for energy-efficient edge AI acceleration. Features 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33, 2 MB NVM, 512 KB RAM, built on TSMC's 22nm ultra-low-leakage process. Accelerates TensorFlow Lite models up to 15x faster with 8x better energy efficiency than competing solutions. Targets battery-powered audio, wearables, and sensor applications.
• nRF54LS05A and nRF54LS05B SoCs Entry-level Bluetooth LE system-on-chip with 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor and ultra-low-power consumption for cost-sensitive IoT applications including sensors, asset tags, beacons, remotes, and PC peripherals. Pin-to-pin compatible with selected SoCs in the nRF54L Series.
• nRF54LV10A SoC Ultra-low-power Bluetooth LE SoC for space-constrained healthcare wearables operating from a single silver-oxide coin cell. Operates from 1.2V to 1.7V supply range, delivering 30% to 50% lower power consumption than nRF52-series devices. Targets continuous glucose monitors and biosensors.
• nRF54L15 SoC Ultra-low-power wireless SoC supporting Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth Channel Sounding, Bluetooth Mesh, Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Amazon Sidewalk, and 2.4 GHz proprietary protocols. Features 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 with 1.5 MB NVM and 256 KB RAM. Powers the nRF54L15 Tag prototyping platform.
• nRF54LM20A SoC Multiprotocol SoC built on 22nm technology platform featuring 2 MB NVM, 512 KB RAM, and 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33. Delivers twice the processing power, three times the processing efficiency, and up to 50% lower power consumption compared to nRF52 series. Supports Bluetooth LE, Channel Sounding, and Matter over Thread.
• nRF5340 SoC World's first wireless SoC with two Arm Cortex-M33 processors (128/64 MHz application core with 1 MB flash/512 KB RAM; 64 MHz network core with 256 KB flash/64 KB RAM). Supports Bluetooth LE, Thread, Zigbee, and advanced audio applications including Auracast. Powers Polar Loop fitness band and Bettear B-RTX Auracast transceiver.
• nRF52840 SoC Multiprotocol SoC for 2.4 GHz ultra-low-power wireless applications featuring 64 MHz 32-bit Arm Cortex M4F processor with 512 KB flash and 64 KB RAM, +8 dBm TX, and -96 dB RX sensitivity. Powers smart rings, sports trackers, livestock monitoring collars, and industrial sensors.
• nRF92 Series Cellular IoT Next-generation LTE-M/NB-IoT and satellite NTN cellular IoT SiP integrating high-performance application MCU with ultra-low-power edge AI through Axon NPU, multi-constellation GNSS receiver, and Wi-Fi locationing. Targets smart meters, trackers, labels, industrial sensors, and wearables with multi-year battery life.
• nRF93 Series Cellular IoT LTE Cat 1 bis cellular IoT modules delivering 10 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink throughput with global LTE support. Optimized for asset tracking, gateways, fleet management systems, security devices, and consumer devices. Fully integrated with nRF Cloud, FOTA, observability, remote debugging, and location services.
• nRF9151 SiP Low-power cellular IoT SiP integrating LTE-M/NB-IoT modem with DECT NR+ support and direct-to-satellite NB-IoT NTN communication. Features 3GPP-compliant GEO and LEO satellite NTN connectivity plus sub-GHz fallback. 20% smaller than predecessors with up to 45% lower peak power consumption.
• nRF9160 SiP Cellular IoT SiP integrating LTE-M/NB-IoT modem with GPS/GNSS. Certified for global cellular IoT applications. Powers See.Sense AIR NB-IoT bike security tracker and Minew MTB04 5G Shipping Label.
• nRF54L15 Tag Compact prototyping platform with dual antennas for Bluetooth Channel Sounding. Built around nRF54L15 SoC with low-power accelerometer for motion-triggered wake-up and CR2032 coin-cell battery. Supports Apple Find My, Google Find Hub, edge AI, and Matter prototyping. Ideal for prototyping asset tags, Bluetooth trackers, and smart wearables.
• nPM1304 Power Management IC Power Management IC with integrated fuel gauging for compact wireless designs. Features ultra-low power precision fuel gauging supporting charging currents down to 4mA, four regulated power rails, 370nA ship mode, hard reset, failed boot recovery, and power failure warning in a 3.1 x 2.4 mm WLCSP package. Powers PlayerData Edge Air sports tracker.
• nPM1300 Power Management IC Highly configurable Power Management IC for battery charging and power management. Integrates essential power management functions into one small package enabling longer run times and efficient battery charging. Prior to nPM1300, PlayerData relied on four discrete ICs for the same functionality.
• nRF21540 RF Front-End Module RF Front-End Module that enhances range and connection stability for Nordic wireless SoCs. Integrated with Bettear B-RTX Auracast transceiver for extended battery life (20+ hours) and reliable low-latency audio streaming.
• nRF Cloud Pre-integrated cloud platform for Nordic devices unifying device management, embedded observability, and location services. Built on Memfault infrastructure acquired in 2025. Offers lifetime FOTA starting at $1/device, firmware-over-the-air updates, automated staged rollouts, fleet management, and audit logs. Addresses EU Cyber Resilience Act requirements.
• Nordic Fuel Gauge v2.0 AI-powered software-based fuel gauge solution for nPM1300 and nPM1304 PMICs. Adds State-of-Health estimation, adaptive battery modeling, and fleet-wide analytics via nRF Cloud. Enables compliance with EU Batteries Regulation 2023/1542 for replaceable batteries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 15x faster TensorFlow Lite model inference vs CPU execution
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability15 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• u-bloxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026u-blox expanded collaboration with Nordic Semiconductor, introducing ALMA-B2 Bluetooth LE module series using Nordic's nRF54LM20 platform. The modules feature built-in Neural Processing Units for edge ML, Bluetooth LE 6.0 connectivity, and deliver up to 15x performance improvement with superior energy efficiency.
• IndieSemiCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026IndieSemiC (Ahmedabad, India) partnered with Nordic Semiconductor to jointly develop certified wireless modules for IoT applications. IndieSemiC manages the complete module lifecycle from RF design through certification using Nordic's low-power SoC technology platform. The partnership supports India's 'Make in India' initiative by creating local supply chain for wireless modules.
• BrainChipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026BrainChip launched AkidaTag reference platform combining their Akida AKD1500 neuromorphic AI co-processor with Nordic Semiconductor's nRF5340 wireless SoC. Platform targets always-on wearables and remote industrial sensors with on-device adaptive learning. Evaluation units expected May 2026, volume production Q3 2026.
• MyriotacoreTechnology or Integration · 2 March 2026Nordic Semiconductor partnered with multiple NTN providers including Myriota for satellite connectivity using nRF9151 module. Partnership enables global IoT coverage for applications in remote areas.
• OmnispacecoreTechnology or Integration · 2 March 2026Nordic Semiconductor partnered with Omnispace for 3GPP-compliant satellite NTN connectivity. Partnership enables direct-to-device satellite communication for global IoT coverage.
• QuintauriscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Nordic Semiconductor is a founding member of Quintauris, a RISC-V joint venture alongside Bosch, Infineon, NXP, Qualcomm, and STMicroelectronics. Company raised capital in 2026 to scale RISC-V roadmap targeting automotive and IoT markets.
• Deutsche TelekomcoreTechnology or Integration · 13 February 2026Deutsche Telekom launched world's first multi-orbit IoT roaming combining terrestrial mobile networks with satellite services from Skylo, Sateliot, OQ Technology, and Iridium. Multi-orbit connectivity validated on commercial hardware using Nordic Semiconductor's nRF9151 module.
• MonogotocoreTechnology or Integration · 10 February 2026Monogoto and Nordic Semiconductor partnered to accelerate nuSIM adoption for IoT devices. Collaboration enables developers to integrate global cellular and satellite connectivity into IoT modules, reducing complexity and increasing security.
• SkylocoreTechnology or Integration · 23 January 2026Nordic Semiconductor obtained Skylo certification for nRF9151 module, enabling global IoT connectivity through Skylo's satellite network. Partnership enables customers to deploy devices with seamless terrestrial and satellite coverage.
• Iridium CommunicationscoreTechnology or Integration · 21 January 2026Iridium Communications completed successful on-air testing of Iridium NTN Direct satellite-based IoT service using Nordic Semiconductor's nRF9151 module. The service achieved two-way message transmission over LEO satellite network, positioning as world's first global standards-based NB-IoT non-terrestrial network.
• OQ TechnologycoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2025Nordic Semiconductor and OQ Technology demonstrated successful end-to-end NB-IoT connectivity from Nordic's nRF9151 module directly to OQ's LEO satellite constellation. Trial proved mass-market cellular IoT modules can connect directly to NTN LEO satellite networks without hardware redesign.
• SateliotcoreTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2025Nordic Semiconductor, Sateliot, and Gatehouse Satcom achieved breakthrough in LEO satellite IoT connectivity for remote regions. Chip-to-cloud communication test using nRF9151 module via Sateliot's LEO satellites to Nordic's nRF Cloud.
• Gatehouse SatcomcoreTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2025Nordic Semiconductor partnered with Gatehouse Satcom for NTN satellite connectivity. Partnership enables nRF9151 module deployment over satellite networks for global IoT coverage.
• Memfault Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Nordic Semiconductor acquired Memfault Inc. in June 2025 to create the industry's first complete chip-to-cloud platform for connected product development and lifecycle management. Memfault's IoT reliability and observability platform integrated into nRF Cloud.
• Mobile SemiconductorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Nordic Semiconductor acquired Mobile Semiconductor in 2023. Mobile Semiconductor provides low power and RadHard memory design technology, supplying memory IP to commercial and Mil/Gov markets with production in Asia, North America, and Europe.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MediaTek: MediaTek competes with Nordic in connectivity SoCs (MT7697, Filogic, and Genio families for Wi-Fi/BLE/Matter) and in cellular IoT modules through its sub-brands. Its scale in smartphone SoCs, aggressive pricing, and broad protocol support position it as a competitor across Nordic's short-range and cellular IoT product lines.
• Qualcomm: Qualcomm is a broad incumbent and a direct competitor in cellular IoT modules (Qualcomm 9205/9206 LTE-M/NB-IoT modem families), competing with Nordic's nRF91/92/93 Series. Qualcomm's scale, modem IP leadership, and carrier relationships make it the dominant rival in Nordic's longest-range product line.
• NXP Semiconductors: NXP competes in BLE/802.15.4 SoCs (KW family) for smart home, industrial, and automotive IoT — directly overlapping Nordic's nRF54 and Matter/Thread target segments. NXP's automotive MCU dominance and scale (alongside its Quintauris co-founding role) make it one of the most consequential incumbents to Nordic's growth path.
• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics is a broad-line incumbent with the STM32WB/WBA Bluetooth LE and 802.15.4 SoC families competing head-to-head with Nordic's nRF series in wearables, industrial, and smart home. ST's MCU breadth, automotive exposure, and global IDM scale make it a formidable competitor across Nordic's primary verticals.
• Texas Instruments: Texas Instruments is a broad-line semiconductor incumbent with a significant low-power wireless connectivity portfolio (SimpleLink family) competing directly with Nordic's BLE/Wi-Fi SoCs in industrial and consumer IoT. TI's scale, broad analog portfolio, and global distribution overlap heavily with Nordic's customer base and target applications.
• Infineon Technologies: Infineon (with the PSoC and AIROC families, including the recently acquired Cypress wireless portfolio) competes with Nordic in BLE/802.15.4 SoCs and is a Quintauris RISC-V co-founding partner alongside Nordic. Its automotive and industrial scale create both a competitor and a potential ecosystem partner dynamic.
• Renesas Electronics: Renesas (which acquired Dialog Semiconductor) competes with Nordic through the DA14xxx and Bluetooth LE SoC portfolios serving wearables, smart home, and industrial IoT. Renesas's broad MCU portfolio and automotive exposure overlap with Nordic's expanding nRF54 and nRF92/93 industrial positioning.

Emerging players

• Espressif Systems: Espressif is an emerging player in low-cost Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE SoCs (ESP32 family), competing with Nordic on price-sensitive IoT designs including consumer electronics, smart home, and maker/developer segments. Its aggressive pricing and large developer community pressure Nordic's nRF52/nRF54L entry-level ASPs.

Direct peers

• u-blox: u-blox is a direct peer and partner in cellular IoT modules (SARA/RINA/NORA families) and is now a strategic module partner using Nordic's nRF54LM20 NPU-enabled platform. Both target industrial, asset tracking, and automotive telematics with LTE-M/NB-IoT solutions, making u-blox both a competitor and a customer.
• Silicon Laboratories: Silicon Labs (Silicon Laboratories) is a direct competitor in low-power wireless SoCs for IoT, with the EFR32 family supporting Bluetooth LE, Thread, Zigbee, Matter, and proprietary protocols — a near-identical offering to Nordic's nRF52/53/54 series. Both target smart home, industrial automation, and connected health with similar multiprotocol stacks on Zephyr-friendly SDKs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NordicTweets
• GitHubgithub.com/NordicSemiconductor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NordicSemi
• Facebookfacebook.com/nordicsemiconductor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nordic-semiconductor-asa
• Instagraminstagram.com/nordicsemi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nordic Semiconductor