Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek have teamed up to demonstrate a 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) new radio (NR) connection based on the latest 3GPP Release 17 specifications. This technological advancement will be presented at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, using the state-of-the-art R&S CMX500 one-box signaling tester (OBT) from Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek's NTN-NR device as the device under test. 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 Rohde & Schwarz booth 5A80 in hall 5 of the Fira Gran Via will feature a live 5G NTN-NR connection, emulating a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite access node. By simulating real-world scenarios,
The R&S CMX500 OBT now supports 5G NTN-NR Rel.17. Source: Rohde & Schwarz the setup is 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 will simulate 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 will operate in an interactive callbox mode, allowing users to trigger voice calls alongside radio frequency (RF)-related measurements. This test mode, based on an intuitive user interface, highlights the tester’s versatility in evaluating 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.
