Com4 logo Com4 logo
Get started
Vessel at sea, illustrating maritime IoT connectivity in Nordic waters

Best IoT providers for Nordic and maritime coverage

The short answer: on land and along the coast, use multi-network cellular. Beyond coastal coverage, add satellite and switch automatically.

Nordic deployments face long coastlines, fjords, sparsely populated areas and assets that move between ports, fish farms and open sea. No single network covers all of that. This page compares the types of provider that serve Nordic and maritime IoT, and what each does best. For our own offer, see maritime IoT connectivity in the Nordics.

Talk to an expert

Key takeaways

  • Use multi-network cellular for ports, coast and fjords, where access to several Nordic networks avoids coverage gaps.
  • Beyond coastal coverage, add satellite: standards-based NTN on the same SIM for sensors and trackers, and LEO broadband such as Starlink for vessels, with automatic switching.
  • Replace 2G and 3G devices now: Nordic shutdowns are under way and run until 2029 in Finland.

What matters for Nordic and maritime IoT

Coverage

All Nordic networks

Access to several networks in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, so devices are not tied to one operator's coverage.

Offshore

Coastal and offshore reach

Offshore 4G networks cover parts of the North Sea and the Norwegian shelf. Check which ones your SIM can use.

Failover

Cellular and satellite together

At open sea, devices need satellite. The best setups switch between cellular and satellite automatically.

Security

Secure and managed

Private APN, one platform for every SIM and terminal, and one contract and invoice.

Sunsets

Ready for 2G and 3G shutdowns

Nordic 2G and 3G networks are closing. Devices need LTE-M, NB-IoT or 4G/5G support.

Nordic and maritime IoT providers compared

ProviderTypeNordic strengthAt seaGood fit for
Com4 (Oslo)Nordic IoT specialist, part of Wireless LogicMulti-network SIMs on Nordic and global networks (750+), own mobile core, support from Oslo3GPP Rel-17 satellite NTN on the same SIM for sensors and trackers, plus managed Starlink LEO with cellular failover (Managed LEO Plus) for vessels and sitesFleets that move between coast, fjord and open sea, aquaculture, offshore
Telenor IoTNordic operator IoT unitTelenor networks across the NordicsTelenor's maritime arm built 4G offshore on the Norwegian shelfEnterprises already on Telenor
Telia Global IoTNordic operatorCore footprint in the Nordics and BalticsTelia Offshore roams onto offshore networks in the Norwegian, UK and Dutch sectorsBuyers who want a Nordic operator contract
Tele2 IoTNordic operator IoT unit670+ networks globally, 24/7 network operations centreNot verifiedOperator-led contracts with global reach
Onomondo (Copenhagen)Global IoT providerCovers all Nordic countriesNot statedLand-based devices needing network diagnostics
emnifyGlobal IoT MVNOTelenor, Tele2, TDC/Nuuday, DNA and Elisa listed for NB-IoTNB-NTN satellite messaging via SkyloSmall-message trackers that need occasional satellite
Iridium / Viasat / StarlinkSatellite networksNot cellularGlobal or near-global satellite coverageOpen sea and remote sites, usually combined with cellular

Provider details are taken from each provider's own public website and price lists, checked November 2026. Offers change, so confirm current terms with each provider. Com4 is one of the providers listed.

Choosing between the options

Nordic operators

Telenor, Telia and Tele2 own the radio networks across the region and run their own IoT units. They are a natural choice if you want one operator relationship and mostly stay on land.

Global IoT providers

Providers like Onomondo and emnify give you one SIM and one platform across many countries. Check how many Nordic networks each SIM can use and whether NB-IoT works when roaming.

Satellite networks

Iridium Certus, Viasat IoT services and Starlink cover places cellular never will. For most maritime fleets, satellite works best as part of a hybrid setup, not on its own.

Com4

Com4 combines multi-network cellular SIMs with satellite NTN on the same SIM, so sensors and trackers fall back to satellite when cellular coverage ends. For vessels and sites that need broadband, Com4 adds managed Starlink services. Everything runs on one contract and one invoice, managed in Polaris CMP. Customers include BW Offshore, AmaWaterways' river cruise fleet and Remora Robotics in aquaculture.

Forest and sea seen from above along the Nordic coast

Coast, fjord and open sea need different networks

In ports and along the coast, cellular is usually fastest and cheapest. In fjords, terrain can block a single operator, so access to several networks matters. Beyond coastal and offshore 4G coverage, only satellite reaches. Plan for all three zones from the start.

Maritime IoT connectivity
Starlink satellite terminal for hybrid cellular and satellite connectivity

Hybrid cellular and satellite

For sensors and trackers, Com4's satellite NTN is commercially available today and uses the same SIM as cellular. It is built on the 3GPP Release 17 standard, so NTN-capable NB-IoT and LTE-M modules connect to satellite when cellular is out of reach, with no dish needed. For vessels and sites that need broadband, Managed LEO Plus combines Starlink with cellular and switches automatically. BW Offshore and AmaWaterways use Com4's satellite services today.

Satellite NTN for IoT
Engineer with a laptop upgrading devices ahead of 2G and 3G shutdowns

Prepare for Nordic 2G and 3G shutdowns

Telia closed 2G in Norway in 2025 and Telenor plans to follow by the end of 2027. In Sweden, Tele2 and Telenor closed 2G and 3G in 2025. Older trackers and alarms on vessels and fish farms need new modules.

Read about the Nordic 2G shutdown

Frequently asked questions

What is the best IoT connectivity for maritime use in the Nordics?

Usually a hybrid: multi-network cellular SIMs for ports, coast and fjords, combined with satellite for open sea, with automatic switching between them.

Does cellular coverage reach offshore in Norway?

Parts of the North Sea and the Norwegian shelf have offshore 4G networks, used by operators and IoT providers through roaming. Beyond that, devices need satellite.

Can IoT devices switch between cellular and satellite automatically?

Yes, with the right router and service. Com4's Managed LEO Plus combines Starlink and cellular with automatic failover and failback.

Can IoT sensors at sea connect to satellite without a dish?

Yes, with NTN-capable devices. Com4's satellite NTN is commercially available and built on the 3GPP Release 17 standard and uses the same SIM, eSIM or iSIM as cellular, so NB-IoT and LTE-M modules with NTN support switch to satellite when cellular is out of reach. It is managed in Polaris CMP.

Which Nordic operators offer IoT connectivity?

Telenor, Telia and Tele2 all run IoT units. Specialist providers such as Com4 combine several Nordic and global networks on one SIM.

When do 2G and 3G close in the Nordics?

Telia closed 2G in Norway in 2025, and Telenor plans to close 2G by the end of 2027. In Sweden, Tele2 and Telenor closed 2G and 3G in 2025, and Telia keeps 2G until the end of 2027. Finnish operators must keep 2G until the end of 2029.

Men in meeting focus

Talk to a maritime IoT expert

Tell us where your vessels, farms or offshore assets operate, and we will design the right mix of cellular and satellite.

Talk to an expert