5G NTN enables modern connectivity by offering network resilience as a backup, allowing for worldwide coverage and even providing service in remote areas like islands and mountains. In April 2023, the UK Government announced a new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy with an £8 million fund to incentivise new satellite connectivity for remote locations. So, it’s clear this is the next stage of 5G evolution. But how can you test and monitor something that’s very remote or even in space? This white paper goes into detail like:
- How NTNs are evolving - Device manufacturers and Network Operators are teaming up to deliver D2H (Direct to Handset) solutions using satellite for low bandwidth connectivity for voice or SMS services. Support for high-bandwidth, low-latency data services like video streaming and cloud computing are still a ways off.
- Why standardisation matters - Standards like 3GPP (release 17), Rel-18 and Rel-19 will improve standards and fulfil regulatory requirements like lawful intercept, emergency calls, public warning systems and more. This is critical for convergence with terrestrial telecoms networks and support across mobile handsets and chipsets.
- Why testing is an issue - With the location of these satellites thousands of feet above the earth, physical testing isn’t really possible. So, providers must look to replicate a station’s condition in orbit by having the base stations (gNB) undergo testing with a traffic emulator (such as the TM500).
- Testing the performance and reliability of the entire network - To validate a capacity test scenario with thousands of UEs and different channel conditions per UE, you’ll want an UE Emulator with embedded channel model software, however.
- Where digital twins come in - These replicas allow you to predict and troubleshoot potential issues, optimise resources and test various scenarios cost-effectively and efficiently.
Learn about how to make your testing costs more profitable with this enlightening read on 5G NTNs.