Photo illustration: Via Satellite

Keysight Technologies and Qualcomm Technologies have demonstrated an end-to-end 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) connection, which the companies say can help bring affordable broadband to remote areas. The demonstration used satellite channel and 5G base station emulation platforms to establish a 5G NTN connection with a Qualcomm Technologies 5G mobile test platform.

The companies announced the demonstration on Jan. 4. The end-to-end 5G NTN connection was based on modeling constellations in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), in Qualcomm Technologies’ San Diego laboratory by combining Keysight’s 5G base station and aerospace emulation solutions with a Qualcomm Technologies 5G mobile test platform. Keysight reported its emulation capabilities compensated for the Doppler effect and time delay of satellites in LEO. 

“Together with Qualcomm Technologies, Keysight is making significant leaps in digitally connecting the world’s unconnected areas where deploying terrestrial cellular networks is not a viable option. Keysight is excited to provide industry-first emulation capabilities to Qualcomm Technologies, enabling the world-leading wireless technology innovator to comprehensively address a wide range of complexities that arise as advanced space and terrestrial technologies are combined onto a single modem platform,” commented Cao Peng, vice president and general manager for Keysight’s Wireless Test Group.