<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001170918-03-000318
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030626
<FILING-DATE>20030630
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LEPARULO PETER V
<CIK>0001201621
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>03764692
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
<STREET2>9255 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE, SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
</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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nwi03-015_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEPARULO PETER V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>2.65</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-06-26</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2003-06-26</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>27310</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>2.65</value>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-06-26</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-06-26</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>27310</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>866665</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> The options were issued pursuant to the amended and restated Novatel Wireless, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. 20% of the options subject to this grant vest 6 months following the vesting commencement date and 1/30th of the balance of the grant vests monthly thereafter. The vesting commencement date with respect to the Reporting Person was June 26, 2003.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Patrick T. Waters, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-06-30</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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