VIAVI launches NTN and HAP network testing for 5G and 6G satellite communications

Shanghai, China, August 30, 2023 – VIAVI Solutions (VIAVI) recently announced the launch of base stations and end-to-end testing supporting non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and high-altitude platforms (HAP) . Wireless technology is increasingly supporting traditional terrestrial communication networks, providing near-comprehensive coverage with the help of satellite communications. The VIAVI TM500 and TeraVM test platforms can verify the consistency, performance and reliability of the gNodeB and the overall network under the unique service link conditions of NTN and HAP networks.

The 3GPP R17 standard officially introduces support and guidance for NTN, and subsequent versions are expected to continue to improve the standard. These specifications will help improve NTN's performance, enabling it to integrate with terrestrial telecommunications networks and support existing 5G mobile handsets and chipsets. An analysis by VIAVI predicts that the growth of satellite communications will result in approximately 30,000 new satellites orbiting the Earth, greatly expanding NTN's potential to provide comprehensive coverage.

5G satellite communications bring greater complexity to testing. NTN needs to be reliable to cope with the distance, speed and mobility of satellites, HAPs and user equipment (UE) while maintaining performance. Test solutions not only need to simulate different UE mobility and attenuation curves, but also must take into account the huge Doppler shifts caused by fast-moving satellites and airborne platforms.

To validate base stations prior to non-terrestrial deployment, the TM500 can simulate a large number of devices, new mobility patterns, signal propagation delays and other conditions unique to NTN, while TeraVM can simulate the core network. This test scenario is very suitable for early functional testing such as 3GPP protocol testing, and can be applied to regenerative architectures and transparent architectures. Further test scenarios focus on end-to-end network testing and optimization, using a real core network to verify overall network performance and reliability.

Ian Langley, senior vice president of VIAVI's wireless business unit, said: "NTN provides new opportunities and collaboration possibilities for mobile and satellite operators, and has the potential to provide connectivity and support mission-critical applications in underserved and densely populated areas. However, as There is growing interest and competition in deploying such networks, and testing for reliability, stability and performance is critical to success."