Keysight joins hands to verify support for non-terrestrial network technology.

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that helps enterprises, service providers and governments accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced today that it is collaborating with MediaTek to validate 5G New Radio (NR) and Internet of Things (IoT) support based on the 3GPP Release 17 (Rel-17) standard for non-terrestrial networks (NTN) of MediaTek’s advanced 5G technology.

NTN provides reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity to remote areas where terrestrial networks are not available using satellites or high-altitude platforms. To build NTN, it is essential to ensure that devices support 5G NR and IoT standards. Chipset and device manufacturers must also verify the functionality and performance of NTN devices before deploying them on commercial satellite networks.

Keysight has integrated 5G networks and real-world channel emulation hardware to build a comprehensive, hybrid non-terrestrial and lab-based space test bed capable of realistically simulating a variety of orbits.

The solution emulates ground-to-satellite, satellite-to-ground, and ground-to-ground satellite links using dynamic multipath propagation. Therefore, the overall performance of terrestrial and non-terrestrial structures, including 5G NTN devices, can be verified.

To leverage MediaTek’s advanced 5G technologies, the S8711A UXM 5G Test Application, which emulates a mobile network for 5G NR and IoT technologies to enable devices under test to establish NTN data call connections, and the S8820A PROPSIM FS16 Channel Emulation Toolset, which emulates satellite orbits along with impairments and channel effects on the air interface in the form of a radio frequency digital twin, were used.

“Our successful NTN deployment in collaboration with Keysight has enabled us to continue the development of NTN technology and solidify MediaTek’s position as a pioneer in the development of commercial satellite communications services,” said Ho-Chi Hwang, general manager of Wireless Systems and Partnerships at MediaTek.

“Keysight is pleased to have worked with MediaTek to successfully complete this validation, a significant milestone in the deployment of commercial NTN services,” said Peng Cao, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s wireless test group. “This early validation enables the industry to quickly move into the certification phase and commercial deployments.”