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For industrial operators, the DECT NR+ Gateway opens up a new option. It removes the need to depend on mobile operators, public networks, or external cloud services. Communication remains under the operator’s control, with predictable performance and strong resistance to interference.

Built using Nordic’s nRF9151 module and developed with the nRF Connect SDK, the DECT NR+ Gateway is the first off-the-shelf industrial-grade radio module to support guaranteed wireless real-time communication via DECT NR+. It enables transparent transmission of industrial protocols, including PROFINET and PROFISAFE, supports seamless handover for moving devices, and offers energy-efficient scheduled access for battery-powered nodes. It can also be introduced into existing facilities without disrupting operations.

Using the Gateway, STRATUM 9 has built a broader DECT NR+ portfolio that includes a full software stack and an AI-assisted starter kit for fast evaluation and development.

Meet STRATUM 9

Headquartered in Kufstein, Austria, engineering firm STRATUM 9 GmbH focuses on industrial wireless communication and IoT solutions, with particular expertise in DECT NR+. The company supports customers from concept to deployment, providing services across validation, integration, production readiness, hardware, firmware, protocol development, gateways and cloud platforms.

TÜV ISO 9001 certified, STRATUM 9 is also a member of the DECT Forum and a certified Nordic Solution Partner.

“Our strength lies in deep expertise across protocol and DECT NR+ stack, embedded systems and complete system integration with a practical focus on industrial reliability,” shares Alfred della Torre Jr., the managing director at STRATUM 9. “This enables us to deliver ready-to-use and customised solutions quickly, without compromising on quality or scalability.”

The DECT NR+ Gateway, and the problem it solves

Industrial wireless has long been difficult to implement where timing is critical. Cables remain the standard because they are predictable, but they also constrain moving machinery and reduce flexibility. Wi-Fi and other mainstream wireless technologies can remove those limitations, but they often struggle under industrial conditions, where latency can vary, collisions increase under load, and interference in crowded spectrums becomes a serious issue. For applications such as robotics, conveyor systems and other moving equipment, those limitations can make conventional wireless unsuitable.

“Ultimately, Nordic is, to this day, the only provider to offer a wireless chip that enables DECT NR+ and delivered the groundwork for our entire DECT NR+ product range.” said della Torre.

STRATUM 9 developed the DECT NR+ Gateway to address that challenge. Designed for permanent use in demanding industrial settings, the Gateway comes in an IP54-rated aluminum enclosure with M12 connectors and a 24 V DC power supply. It integrates DECT NR+ into existing Ethernet infrastructure and can operate in three modes: as a point-to-point radio bridge between two locations, as a stationary base station managing multiple moving devices with seamless handover, or as a protocol bridge connecting DECT NR+ devices to an existing LAN or IoT network.

This allows operators to replace cables in mobile systems without sacrificing latency guarantees. It also supports transparent transmission of established industrial protocols such as PROFINET and PROFISAFE, avoiding the need to redesign existing automation structures. At the same time, it enables devices to stay connected as they move between base stations and can be retrofitted into live production environments without downtime.

For STRATUM 9, the result is a wireless solution that brings predictability, stability and reliability to industrial automation, even in highly dynamic environments.

Streamlining development with Nordic and the nRF Connect SDK

STRATUM 9’s work with Nordic began before the development of its DECT NR+. For the company’s S9 Core IoT platform, it had already selected Nordic’s nRF9160 module, attracted by its integrated GNSS, power efficiency and foundation in the Zephyr open-source ecosystem. That experience laid the groundwork for the next step.

When STRATUM 9 started focusing on DECT NR+, Nordic’s nRF9151 was the clear choice. It remains the only wireless chip to support DECT NR+, and its highly integrated design combines LTE-M, NB-IoT, NTN satellite connectivity and DECT NR+ in a single compact package. That made it the ideal wireless foundation.

The nRF Connect SDK further accelerated this development. Because the STRATUM 9 team was already familiar with that environment, they could work quickly with access to Nordic-optimised protocol stacks, security libraries, drivers and development tools. That allowed engineering efforts to focus on the company’s key innovation – the deterministic Scheduled Access MAC layer that underpins the Gateway’s real-time performance.

The outcome is a complete DECT NR+ product family built on Nordic technology: a full software stack, an AI-assisted starter kit, and the production-ready Gateway itself.

Moving forward

STRATUM 9’s DECT NR+ portfolio provides industrial operators with a practical way to introduce deterministic wireless connectivity into applications such as AGV fleets, mobile robotics, smart metering and predictive maintenance retrofits. By combining private network control, license-free spectrum, and industrial-grade reliability, the company is helping make real-time wireless a viable option for factory automation.

As a certified Nordic Solution Partner, STRATUM 9 plans to continue building on this collaboration across future DECT NR+ products and deployments, extending the role of reliable wireless communication in industrial environments.

“As a solution partner, we highly value the professionalism, technical expertise, and strong support Nordic brings to the relationship, and would gladly recommend Nordic Semiconductor to our customers and partners,” says della Torre.

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