- Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek demonstrated a 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) new radio (NR) connection based on the latest 3GPP Release 17 specifications.
- This technological advancement was presented at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona using the R&S CMX500 one-box signaling tester (OBT) from Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek’s NTN-NR device as DUT.
- 5G NTN-NR is the next phase of NTN technology in which smartphones and other 5G devices will be directly linked with satellite-based services.
The demonstration at the Rohde & Schwarz booth at MWC Barcelona featured a live 5G NTN-NR connection, emulating a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite access node.
By simulating real-world scenarios, the setup was designed to showcase the capabilities of 5G technology to provide connectivity in areas without terrestrial coverage.
NTN-NR will ensure that basic mobile services such as voice, messaging and low data rate services are accessible worldwide, especially in situations where terrestrial network coverage is unavailable or impractical, such as maritime, aeronautical and rural applications.
The R&S CMX500 OBT radio communication tester simulates the satellite base station in combination with the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator, which simulates the different satellite constellations with its integrated GNSS option.
The R&S CMX500 operate in an interactive callbox mode, allowing users to trigger voice calls alongside RF-related measurements. This test mode, based on an intuitive user interface, allows to evaluate both the performance and reliability of 5G connections under different conditions to ensure that future NTN-NR devices powered by MediaTek’s NTN test platform will work flawlessly anywhere in the world.
