Pioneering the Future of Satellite Connectivity: Keysight and KT SAT Validate Crucial NTN Handover Technology
The future of global connectivity is rapidly expanding beyond terrestrial networks, reaching for the skies with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). But before massive satellite constellations reshape how we communicate, rigorous testing and validation are paramount. A recent collaboration between Keysight Technologies and KT SAT has delivered a significant breakthrough, successfully demonstrating a multi-orbit handover using Ku-band frequencies – a critical step towards realizing the full potential of NTN and accelerating its commercial deployment.
This isn’t just another lab demo. It’s a pivotal moment for the satellite communications industry, offering a practical pathway to understand and optimize the complex behaviors of NTN before significant infrastructure investments are made. As experts in wireless test solutions and a leading satellite operator in Korea, Keysight and KT SAT are proactively addressing the challenges of seamless connectivity in a multi-orbit environment.
Why is this crucial?
For years, satellite communication has largely relied on point-to-point links, frequently enough utilizing Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites.While effective, this approach has limitations in terms of latency and global coverage.The emerging vision of NTN involves a dynamic interplay between GEO, Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, offering lower latency, broader coverage, and increased resilience. However, seamlessly handing off a connection between these different orbits – particularly as a user moves – presents significant technical hurdles.
Breaking Down the Exhibition: A first for the Industry
Keysight and KT SAT have achieved an industry first: a triumphant NR-NTN multi-orbit handover between a commercial GEO satellite (KOREASAT-6A) and an emulated LEO link. This demonstration,conducted at KT SAT’s Kumsan satellite network operation center,utilized live Ku-band frequencies – downlink around 12.3GHz and uplink around 14.4GHz - aligning directly with the newly standardized 3GPP Release 19 specifications for ku-band NTN.
Here’s how they did it:
* Real-World GEO Connection: The team leveraged the operational KOREASAT-6A satellite, providing a genuine, live connection.
* Emulated LEO Environment: Keysight’s powerful Network Emulator Solutions and UeSIM RAN Testing Toolset were used to create a realistic LEO environment, simulating the characteristics of a LEO satellite link.
* Seamless Handover: The system successfully established a two-way link through the GEO satellite and then seamlessly transitioned the connection to the emulated LEO link, maintaining service continuity.
The Power of Emulation: De-Risking NTN Deployment
The key to this success lies in the power of emulation. Rather of relying solely on expensive and complex field trials, Keysight’s solutions allow operators like KT SAT to recreate the NTN environment in a controlled lab setting. This offers several critical advantages:
* Early Insights: Operators gain valuable insights into real-world propagation, timing, and interoperability behaviors before deploying satellites or user devices.
* Cost Reduction: Lab-based testing significantly reduces the cost and risk associated with early NTN deployments.
* Accelerated Roadmap: KT SAT can now explore and validate advanced NTN mobility scenarios, accelerating its roadmap for bringing new multi-orbit services to market.
* Standardization Support: The findings from this collaboration will inform ongoing standards discussions and operator evaluations, helping to streamline the commercialization process.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Connectivity?
This demonstration isn’t just a technical achievement; it’s a strategic move that will shape the future of satellite communications.
According to Seo Young-soo, CEO of KT SAT, “As the only satellite communications service provider in korea, KT SAT is progressively validating the applicability of NTN gNB and UE using our five operational GEO satellites. Building on the results of this trial, we will actively explore strengthening the competitiveness of our next-generation GEO satellite for the global market and delivering integrated multi-orbit communication services based on NTN systems, including traffic handover across our own GEO and future LEO/MEO constellations.”
Peng cao, Vice President and General Manager of Keysight’s wireless test group, emphasizes the transformative potential of emulation: “This demonstration shows how emulation can bring future multi-orbit networks into the lab today. By combining a live GEO connection with emulated LEO conditions using NR-NTN parameters in Ku-band,Keysight gives operators and vendors a practical way to
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