<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000939334-03-000001
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030514
<FILING-DATE>20030815
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>RIT CAPITAL PARTNERS PLC
<CIK>0000939334
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0331
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>03850001
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>SPENCER HOUSE, 27 ST. JAME'S PLACE
<STREET2>LONDON SWIA 1NR UNITED KINGDOM
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>SPENCER HOUSE, 27 ST. JAMES PLACE
<STREET2>LONDON SWIA 1NR UNITED KINGDOM
</MAIL-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>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><derivativeHolding><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 adjustments.  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>

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