Cellular Provider Matrix

In order to use a provider below you'll likely have to set the PDP context. For NCS >= 1.7.x you can set it in your prj.conf using the following config variables:

CONFIG_PDN=y
CONFIG_PDN_DEFAULTS_OVERRIDE=y
CONFIG_PDN_SYS_INIT=y
# Note: "ip" is set by PDN_DEFAULT_FAM kconfig's
# example:
# AT+CGDCONT=1,"ip","apn" - below only sets APN field
CONFIG_PDN_DEFAULT_APN="myapn"
CONFIG_PDN_DEFAULT_FAM_IPV4V6=y

(The above example is from Nordic's Devzone.)

There are also other configuration options like setting the authentication method, user name and password:

choice
	prompt "Authentication method"
	default PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_NONE

config PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_NONE
	bool "None"
config PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_PAP
	bool "PAP"
config PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_CHAP
	bool "CHAP"
endchoice

config PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH
	int
	default 0 if PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_NONE
	default 1 if PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_PAP
	default 2 if PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_CHAP

config PDN_DEFAULT_USERNAME
	string "Username"
	depends on !PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_NONE

config PDN_DEFAULT_PASSWORD
	string "Password"
	depends on !PDN_DEFAULT_AUTH_NONE

For NCS < 1.6.x, this can be done in your project's prj.conf in Zephyr. Here's an example of setting the PDP context to use Hologram.

# Set the PDP context
CONFIG_LTE_LINK_CONTROL=y
CONFIG_LTE_PDP_CMD=y
CONFIG_LTE_PDP_CONTEXT="0,\"IP\",\"hologram\""

Simply replace hologram with a provider specific APN and you'll be good to go.

Some providers also require a username and password. For example, here's what Soracom's looks like:

CONFIG_LTE_PDN_AUTH_CMD=y
CONFIG_LTE_PDN_AUTH="0,\"PAP\",\"sora\",\"sora\""

Side note: in the case of both Hologram an Soracom you do not need the PDP context to transfer data.

Here's a full working list of what plays nicely with the nRF9160 Feather. This list is subject to change at any time.

LTE

Note: are some important caveats about Verizon. That information is located here.

NB IoT

Emoji usage chart:

💡Side note: unless otherwise noted these are tested along the shoreline of Connecticut. Your mileage may vary so make sure you do your own testing before adopting a provider.

Customer reports

We don't always have the ability to test every single cellular provider. In this section, here are a few providers that customers have reported success with.

For the latest information on which providers support the nRF9160 SiP check out Nordic's nRF9160 certification page.