Keysight Technologies, Inc.and ETS-Lindgren announce an industry-first over-the-air (OTA) test solution for devices supporting the narrowband non-terrestrial networks (NB-NTN) technology. 

Non-terrestrial networks (NTN), a feature of 3GPP Release 17 (Rel-17), enables cellular communications to be delivered by satellite, providing secure, reliable, and high bandwidth coverage to isolated locations globally. The initial technology enabled by NTN is narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), which enables many new use cases, including asset tracking, remote monitoring, and emergency services. This enables mobile network operators to provide coverage to a wider geographical area and a larger number of subscribers.

Working in close partnership, Keysight and ETS-Lindgren developed a joint OTA test solution for measuring and validating the transmitter / receiver performance of devices supporting NB-NTN. These tests allow device manufacturers to assess real-life performance to ensure they meet consumer expectations and the requirements of network operators and regulators. The solution will also support the forthcoming CTIA OTA test requirements for NTN devices.