Five organizations, including the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), SKY Perfect JSAT (JSAT), TMY Technology, Inc. (TMYTEK), Rohde & Schwarz, and VIAVI Solutions (VIAVI)[1], have collaborated to develop a new 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite technology to enhance mobile connectivity in remote areas. The joint research team conducted a live demonstration at the World Expo 2025 Singapore Pavilion in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the deployment of an end-to-end cross-country 5G new radio (NR) NTN. The live demonstration was attended by the Guest-of-Honor, Mr. Ong Eng Chuan, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Japan.
During the live demonstration, a 5G signal was transmitted from an end-user equipment (UE) in Singapore, such as a communication device, via a satellite antenna to a geostationary (GEO) satellite operated by JSAT. The signal was then relayed from the satellite to a ground station in JSAT, Japan, which connects to a 5G base station and 5G core network emulator, showcasing the possibility of communication between NTN and terrestrial networks (TN). This marked the first transmission of its kind between the two countries.
The successful live demonstration demonstrated that an existing GEO satellite can effectively support the 5G NR standards defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a consortium that establishes global standards for mobile telecommunications. While current 5G deployments primarily rely on TN, future 6G networks are anticipated to combine both TN and NTN to achieve global coverage and resilient connectivity. This demonstration sets the groundwork for future expansions to medium earth orbit (MEO) and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, as well as 6G converged TN and NTN networks.
Satellite operators, mobile network operators, equipment vendors, and end-user application providers will need to evaluate the performance of NTN networks and the traffic flowing through them. Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI have developed an NTN digital twin testbed encompassing LEO, MEO, and GEO, which was utilized in testing and validating the end-to-end connectivity and performance during the live demonstration.
Filed Under: 5G, Satellite Comms, Tools
