NTN device testing

Device testing for NTN NB-IoT

Mobile devices for NTN-IoT are designed to enable seamless communication and data exchange. Examples include IoT sensors, trackers, smart meters, wearable devices and industrial monitoring devices. These devices typically feature low power consumption, optimized network protocols and support for various IoT communication technologies such as narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) or long-term evolution for machines (LTE-M).

NTN-IoT device developers need to understand the distinctions between various satellite orbits and their implications. Testing NTN-IoT devices for different orbits is crucial to optimize performance, connectivity reach and overall techno economics.

• Geosynchronous orbit (GSO) covers higher latitudes, including the Earth's poles, expanding IoT reach.
• Geostationary orbit (GEO) ensures continuous regional coverage and simplifies antenna design.
• Low Earth orbit (LEO) provides low latency and fast data transmission, ensuring robust connectivity even under challenging conditions.

Differences between NTN-IoT and NTN-NR devices

NTN-NR devices include smartphones, tablets, laptops and other mobile devices that are equipped with 5G NR modems or chipsets. These devices enable users to access advanced 5G services and benefit from reliable communication everywhere, regardless of geographical location.

NTN-NR devices utilize a larger bandwidth than NTN-IoT devices. They can offer increased throughput and operate over an extended spectrum ranging from 1 GHz to 30 GHz. NTN-IoT and NTN-NR devices share many features, but the signaling layer of NTN-NR devices is specifically tailored and optimized for mobility, including conditional handovers for transitions between TN-NTN, NTN-TN and intra/intersatellite. This optimization enables uninterrupted voice, data and messaging services across all geographical locations.

NTN device conformance testing

NTN device conformance testing verifies that the devices intended for NTN communication comply with specific technical standards, such as those set by 3GPP, ETSI, FCC and ITU. This ensures reliable, efficient communications. The test process addresses the unique challenges of NTN communication, such as propagation delays and Doppler effects, to confirm that devices can handle the long signal round trip times and frequency shifts caused by satellite movement.

Key testing categories include radio frequency (RF) testing, protocol testing, performance testing, carrier acceptance testing and interoperability testing. These tests are conducted by accredited test laboratories within the industry, adhering to standards set by GCF and PTCRB for certification as well as regulatory requirements such as CE.

Master your NTN device testing challenges

The dynamic nature of non-terrestrial communication, the complexities of satellite connectivity and the evolving technological landscape present a range of challenges, such as:

• Time synchronization: Distance from UE to satellite causes long absolute delay.
• Frequency synchronization: Movement of LEO satellites causes Doppler shift.
• Signal fading: Satellite connectivity requires new fading profiles such as the combination of atmospheric and terrestrial fading and also the emulation of weather specific effects.
• Low signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR): Long distance causes high free space path loss ending in a low SINR on the UE side.
• GNSS measurements and satellite ephemerals: UE location must be known in order to calculate distance to satellite.
• Battery efficiency and power management: Performance-heavy calculations necessitate power saving optimizations.
• NTN mobility: conditional handover for TN to NTN, NTN to TN, inter/intra satellite

Discover the best NTN device testing solution for you

Rohde & Schwarz offers solutions for every stage of NTN device testing:

• Early R&D: R&S®SMW200A signal generator and R&S®FSW signal and spectrum analyzer are perfect for creating NTN testbeds and understanding NTN channel characteristics in various orbits.
• Product R&D: R&S®CMW500 wideband radio communication tester, is the leading solution for RF parametric, signaling and application testing, enabling faster time-to-market.
• Conformance testing: R&S®CMW500 for PCT and R&S®TS8980 conformance test system for RF conformance, carrier acceptance and regulatory testing.
• Network acceptance testing: You easily create dedicated test plans with the R&S®CMW500.
• Production: R&S®CMW100 communications manufacturing test set and R&S®CMP180 radio communication tester are streamlined for speed and yield.
• Service: R&S®CMW500

For end to end (E2E) NTN testing, Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI Solutions have jointly developed an NTN digital twin testbed that covers LEO, MEO and GEO. The testbed includes the R&S®CMX500 mobile communication tester - a single box with channel emulation and all 3GPP fading profiles - along with the VIAVI TM500 AS2 and VIAVI TeraVM Real Data Applications (RDA) engine. With this solution, users can:

• Validate E2E connectivity and performance
• Measure quality of service (QoS) over large areas with different UE types
• Measure end user application performance while accounting for the distance, speed and mobility of both satellite and UE
• Ensure reliable, stable performance