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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Amn0NWvee4SCCItGNI8p9NMSVeeVqQ18ADbPwBsujGJvAm2q8LapOPBUexkmSkHL
 x9KPjtV31XNCPQw5FxnUOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000939334-03-000001.txt : 20030815
<SEC-HEADER>0000939334-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030815
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030815122200
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000939334-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030514
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030815

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIT CAPITAL PARTNERS PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000939334
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31659
		FILM NUMBER:		03850001

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SPENCER HOUSE, 27 ST. JAME'S PLACE
		STREET 2:		LONDON SWIA 1NR UNITED KINGDOM

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SPENCER HOUSE, 27 ST. JAMES PLACE
		STREET 2:		LONDON SWIA 1NR UNITED KINGDOM

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVATEL WIRELESS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022652
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC. [7370]
		IRS NUMBER:				860824673
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 225
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8583208800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 225
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-14</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000939334</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIT CAPITAL PARTNERS PLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SPENCER HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27 ST. JAMES'S PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW1A 1NR</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>85600</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.70</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock
</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>337143</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Secured Convertible Subordinated Note</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.70</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-05-14</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>576580</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><deri
vativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Warrant</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.70</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-11-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>222243</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Information created to satisfy SEC form input requirements. The Series B Preferred Stock has no expiration date.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The aggregate liquidation preference and accrued but unpaid dividends on these preferred shares are convertible into shares of Common Stock at the rate of $0.70 per share of Common Stock, subject to certain adjustment
s.  As of 5/14/2003, the issue date, no dividends had accrued on these preferred shares.  </footnote><footnote id="F3">Represents Maturity Date of Note.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Represents Shares of Common Stock issuable as of 5/14/2003 in connection with a Secured Convertible Subordinated Note issued by the Issuer in the original principal amount of $403,606.  The holder has the right to convert the note into shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the rate of $1,000 per share, and, under certain circumstances, the Issuer has the right to satisfy unpaid principal and interest under the Note through the delivery of shares of Series B Preferred Stock at such rate.  As noted in note (2) above, the aggregate liquidation preference and accrued but unpaid dividends on shares of Series B Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of Common Stock at the rate of $0.70 per share of Common Stock, subject to certain adjustments.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael Sofaer, on behalf 
of RIT Capital Partners plc</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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