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<FILING-DATE>20030602
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<CONFORMED-NAME>PUDWILL HORST J
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<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
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<CITY>WANCHAI, HONG KONG
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<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC
<CIK>0001022652
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7370
<IRS-NUMBER>860824673
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
<STREET2>SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
<PHONE>8583208800
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<STREET2>SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
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<REPORTING-OWNER>
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<CONFORMED-NAME>BAY INVESTMENTS LTD
<CIK>0001235280
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0331
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    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-14</periodOfReport>
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    <issuer>
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        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
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            <rptOwnerName>PUDWILL HORST J</rptOwnerName>
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<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>134283</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Through Marco Polo Industries</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value </value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.7</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-14</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1555714</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Secured Convertible Subordinated Note</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.7</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-05-14</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1309524</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Warrant</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.7</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-09-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>142857</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Warrant</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.7</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>661310</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Warrant</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.79</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-06-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>29797</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>through Marco Polo Industries Ltd.  </value><footnoteId id="F6"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Warrant</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-12-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>through Marco Polo Industries Ltd.  </value><footnoteId id="F6"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><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 adjustments.  As of 5/14/2003, the issue date, no dividends had accrued on these preferred shares. </footnote><footnote id="F3">These securities are owned directly by Bay Investments Limited.  Horst J. Pudwill and Barbara Pudwill, each a reporting person signatory hereto, each directly owns 50% of the outstanding capital stock of Bay Investments Limited.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Represents Secured Convertible Subordinated Note issued by the Issuer in the original principal amount of $916,666.67.  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 (3) 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><footnote id="F5">Represents Maturity Date of Note.</footnote><footnote id="F6">These securities are owned by Marco Polo Industries Ltd.  Horst J. Pudwill and Barbara Pudwill, each a reporting person signatory hereto, collectively own all of the outstanding capital stock of Marco Polo Industries Ltd.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Horst J. Pudwill, on behalf of Bay Investments Limited</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Horst J. Pudwill</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Barbara Pudwill</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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