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Keysight Technologies is working with Skylo Technologies to expand its cellular testing expertise to non-terrestrial networks (NTN). The companies announced an MoU on Wednesday to create a certification program for chipsets, modules, and devices using  narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) protocol over satellite. 

Keysight offers 5G device test solutions, and will create a certification plan to validate NB-IoT NTN chipsets, modules, and devices for use on Skylo’s network. Skylo’s network is based on 3GPP 5G Rel-17 specifications and is currently live in certain geographical regions.

Skylo CTO Andrew Nuttall commented that the partnership will accelerate Skylo’s certification program and unlock an ecosystem of NB-NTN chipsets, modules, and devices. 

“Keysight plays a critical role to deliver solutions that enable our customers to bring this amazing technology to market. NTN will transform global connectivity and unleash satellite services to the broad market. It’s been great to collaborate with Andrew and the Skylo team to accelerate the deployment of the NTN devices to digitally connect all parts of the world,” said Lucas Hansen VP/GM of the Communications Solutions Group at Keysight.

Listen to our recent On Orbit podcast episode with Skylo exec Tarun Gupta on the direct-to-device market