- The Global Certification Forum (GCF) has validated a series of test cases for non-terrestrial networks based on 5G New Radio (NR-NTN) technology submitted by Rohde & Schwarz.
- This official validation covers all three technical domains defined by 3GPP Release 17: radio frequency (RF), radio resource management (RRM), and protocol conformance testing (PCT).
The results were presented at GCF CAG #86 in Düsseldorf, following initial validation for this satellite communication technology from the PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board).
The validated test cases are part of GCF Work Item WI-555, developed in accordance with the 3GPP test specifications. These procedures aim to verify the equipment’s compliance with the requirements of satellite environments, whose dynamic properties differ from traditional terrestrial architectures.
To perform these measurements in Frequency Band 1 (FR1), the hardware architecture relied on the R&S TS8980 and R&S TS-RRM compliance platforms, combined with the CMX500 all-in-one signaling tester (pictured). The device under test (DOT) used to validate these scenarios was the latest NR-NTN chipset developed by Samsung.
Functionally, the CMX500 test system incorporates channel emulation and fading capabilities, complemented by a graphical modeling tool for satellite constellations. The entire test solution is driven by the R&S Contest software environment, which supports the execution of 3GPP scenarios.
