<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001237929-03-000001
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030514
<FILING-DATE>20030624
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SOFAER MICHAEL
<CIK>0001237928
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>03754929
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>MUTUAL TRUST MANAGEMENT BERMUDA LTD
<STREET2>44 CHURCH STREET
<CITY>HAMILTON
<STATE>A1
<ZIP>00000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SOFAER CAPITAL INC
<CIK>0001237929
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>03754930
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>MUTUAL TRUST MANAGEMENT BERMUDA LTD
<STREET2>44 CHURCH STREET
<CITY>HAMILTON
<STATE>A1
<ZIP>00000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
<STREET2>SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</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>0001237929</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOFAER CAPITAL INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237928</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOFAER MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>No securities owned</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Through Mutual Trust Management (Bermuda) Limited</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Reporting Persons disclaim pecuniary interest in NVTL securities.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael Sofaer, on behalf of Sofaer Capital Inc.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael Sofaer</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
