Japanese satellite operator Sky Perfect JSAT has opened a Universal NTN Innovation Lab to serve as a testing hub for platforms and solutions that combine 5G with its non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology.
Japanese satellite operator Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation announced Monday that it has opened a Universal NTN Innovation Lab at its Yokohama Satellite Control Center (YSCC). The lab will serve as a testing center for platforms and solutions that combine 5G with its non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology.
The company said its new facility will focus its work on 5G NTN, supporting the development of new technologies through the use of satellite communications.
Sky Perfect JSAT's Universal NTN is a multi-layered network that utilizes geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites, non-GEO satellites and high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) to provide robust and reliable connectivity. It uses technology that automatically routes to the optimal communication path.
The company has been working on Universal NTN since 2021, with the goal of improving the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
"Leveraging our geostationary satellites and the infrastructure of YSCC, the NTN Lab will provide a foundation for the commercial deployment of NTN technology," said Eiichi Yonekura, representative director, president and CEO at Sky Perfect JSAT, in a statement.
He added that the company will use the NTN Lab as a hub to support the communications infrastructure of the future, driving technological innovation while collaborating with companies and research institutions.
"Through these efforts, we are committed to advance the commercialization of NTN technology and the creation of new business opportunities," Yonekura said.
Technical testing
According to the satellite operator, the initial phase of the NTN Lab will include technical tests using the Ku-band (12GHz to 14GHz frequency range commonly used for satellite communications) and 5G NTN technology as defined in 3GPP Release 19.
These tests are aimed at establishing a high-reliability communications environment via satellite and ensuring seamless connectivity between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
(Source: Sky Perfect JSAT)
The NTN Lab is equipped with high-performance simulators for 5G NTN-compliant user devices such as smartphones, tablets and PCs connected to communication networks and basestations, including the TM500 from US company Viavi Solutions and the CMX500 from Rohde & Schwarz, a German firm.
"This equipment enables extensive technology validation with a focus on commercial deployment and supports a wide range of test scenarios," said Yonekura.
Technical testing has already been underway this month.
After verifying the core technologies of 5G NTN with its partner companies, Sky Perfect JSAT plans to open the NTN Lab to various companies and organizations by the second half of fiscal 2025 to enable "collaborative trials and technical development for future use cases and applications."
From 2025, the company expects the NTN Lab to drive proof-of-concept testing of NTN and terrestrial network integration. It also hopes to co-develop solutions and applications for proof-of-concept testing that are tailored to partners' use cases.
ABI Research predicted that the NTN mobile market has the potential to reach a market value of at least $18 billion, with up to 200 million connections by 2031. The research firm pointed out that the growing convergence of satellite technology and cellular smartphones has been made possible by integrating NTN connectivity into the 5G cellular ecosystem, as introduced in 3GPP's Release 17.
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