First 5G NTN link from a geostationary satellite
Researchers in Korea have demonstrated the first 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) link from a geostationary satellite.
Using a geostationary satellite for 5G NTN provides a more stable link across a defined area but is in a higher orbit and so needs more sensitive equipment.
The team at Korea Telecom (KT), subsidiary KT SAT, Rohde & Schwarz Korea and VIAVI Solutions Korea used the KoreaSat6 satellite at an orbital altitude of 35,800 km for the world’s first demonstration of the 5G NTN standard being applied to a geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite.
Other 5G satellite links have used a constellation in low earth orbit (LEO), which requires sophisticated handover algorithms.
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KT CEO Kim Young-seop and KT SAT CEO Seo Young-soo announced the test, which was conducted at KT SAT’s Kumsan Satellite Centre.
5G NTN is a standard technology defined in 3GPP Release 17. Data transmission speeds are slower than terrestrial 5G networks, but services are provided in areas with coverage gaps such as sea, air, and mountainous areas. Rel 17 defines the characteristics for handover between existing 5G networks and 5G satellite coverage for uninterrupted services on the ground and in the air.
Standards work on technologies for 5G from satellites to partially replace terrestrial 5G networks is in progress in 3GPP Release 19, and that it will begin verifying the technology through interoperability tests as soon as the standards are completed.
The core technology is to precisely process the propagation delay caused by long distances and the frequency change (Doppler effort) caused by the movement of the satellite. During this test process, KT implemented a technology that accurately compensates for the long delay time over a distance of approximately 35,800 km using the standard technology.
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In addition to the geostationary satellites used in the process of securing this technology, KT plans to secure NTN technology that is interoperable with various aerospace communication platforms such as medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, and high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) supported by the 3GPP standard.
“NTN is one of the core technologies of 5G and future 6G, and is a technology that utilizes satellites to expand terrestrial communication networks to various spaces such as the sea and the air,” said Kim Tae-hoon, CEO of Rohde & Schwarz Korea. “We are very pleased that Rohde & Schwarz Korea’s expertise and innovation were able to join us in this technology verification that was conducted to ensure the smooth operation and user experience of the 3GPP standard-based NTN service.”
“First of all, we are very pleased that Viavi Solutions Korea can participate in KT’s 5G NTN project,” said Seo Beom-seok, CEO of Viavi Solutions Korea. “This technology verification of 5G NTN using GEO satellites will not only explore the possibility of low-orbit services in the short term, but also enable the provision of broadband, hyper-connectivity, and low-latency services pursued in 6G in the long term through NTN technology.”
Lee Jong-sik, managing director and head of KT’s Network Research Institute, said, “NTN technology, which began to be defined in the 5G Advanced standard, will become a core technology of 6G in the future,” and “In the 6G era, communication coverage will expand beyond terrestrial limitations to the three-dimensional aerial domain, opening up a truly ubiquitous communications era.”
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