European Area Company (ESA), MediaTek Inc., Eutelsat, Airbus Defence and Area, Sharp, the Industrial Know-how Analysis Institute (ITRI), and Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) have performed the world’s first profitable trial of 5G-Superior Non-Terrestrial Community (NTN) expertise over the Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites compliant with 3GPP Rel-19 NR-NTN configurations. The checks pave the way in which for deployment of 5G-Superior NR-NTN normal, which can result in future satellite tv for pc and terrestrial interoperability inside a big ecosystem, reducing the price of entry and enabling the usage of satellite tv for pc broadband for NTN units world wide.
The trial used OneWeb satellites, speaking with the MediaTek NR-NTN chipset, and ITRI’s NR-NTN gNB, implementing 3GPP Launch 19 specs together with Ku-band, 50 MHz channel bandwidth and conditional handover (CHO). The OneWeb satellites, constructed by Airbus, carry clear transponders, with Ku-band service hyperlink, Ka-band feeder hyperlink, and undertake the “Earth-moving beams” idea. Through the trial, the NTN consumer terminal with a flat panel antenna developed by SHARP – efficiently related over satellite tv for pc to the on-ground 5G core utilizing the gateway antenna situated at ESA’s European Area Analysis and Know-how Centre (ESTEC) in The Netherlands.
David Phillips, Head of the Programs, Strategic Programme Traces and Know-how Division inside ESA’s Connectivity and Safe Communications directorate, stated: “By partnering with Airbus Defence and Area, Eutelsat and companions, this modern step within the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks proves why collaboration is an important ingredient in boosting competitiveness and progress of Europe’s satellite tv for pc communications sector.”
Mingxi Fan, Head of Wi-fi System and ASIC Engineering at MediaTek, stated: “As a world chief in terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity, we proceed in our mission to enhance lives by enabling expertise that connects the world round us, together with areas with little to no mobile protection. By making real-world connections with Eutelsat LEO satellites in orbit, along with our ecosystem companions, we at the moment are one other step nearer to convey the following technology of 3GPP-based NR-NTN satellite tv for pc wideband connectivity for industrial makes use of.”
Daniele Finocchiaro, Head of Telecom R&D and Initiatives at Eutelsat, stated: “We’re proud to be among the many main corporations engaged on NTN specs, and to be the primary satellite tv for pc operator to check NTN broadband over Ku-band LEO satellites. Collaboration with essential companions is a key ingredient when engaged on a brand new expertise, and we particularly respect the assist of the European Area Company.”
Elodie Viau, Head of Telecom and Navigation Programs at Airbus, stated: “This connectivity demonstration carried out with Airbus-built LEO Eutelsat satellites confirms our product adaptability. The profitable showcase of Superior New Radio NTN handover functionality marks a significant step in the direction of enabling seamless, world broadband connectivity for 5G units. These outcomes replicate the sturdy collaboration between all companions concerned, whose mixed experience and dedication have been key to attaining this milestone.”
Masahiro Okitsu, President & CEO, Sharp Company, stated: “We’re proud to announce that we have now efficiently demonstrated Conditional Handover over 5G-Superior NR-NTN connection utilizing OneWeb constellation and our newly developed consumer terminals. This achievement marks a major step towards the sensible implementation of non-terrestrial networks. Leveraging the experience we have now cultivated over a few years in terrestrial communications, we’re honored to convey innovation to the sphere of satellite tv for pc communications as effectively. Shifting ahead, we’ll proceed to contribute to the evolution of worldwide communication infrastructure and try to appreciate a society the place everyone seems to be seamlessly related.”
Dr. Pang-An Ting, Vice President and Common Director of Data and Communications Analysis Laboratories at ITRI, stated: “On this trial, ITRI showcased its superior NR-NTN gNB expertise as an integral a part of the NR-NTN communication system, enabling conditional handover on the Rel-19 system. We see nice potential in 3GPP NTN communication to ship ubiquitous protection and seamless connectivity in full integration with terrestrial networks.”
Goce Talaganov, Vice President of Cellular Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, stated: “We at Rohde & Schwarz are excited to have contributed to this business milestone with our check and measurement experience. For real-time NR-NTN channel characterization, we used our high-end sign technology and evaluation devices R&S SMW200A and FSW. Our CMX500-based NTN check suite replicated the Ku-band conditional handover eventualities within the lab. This rigorous testing, which addresses the challenges of satellite-based communications, paved the way in which for additional efficiency optimization of MediaTek’s and Sharp’s 5G-Superior NTN units.”

