Airbus UpNext Validates 5G NTN Use Cases for SpaceRAN
Case Studies
Airbus UpNext worked with Keysight to support the ground-based phase of the SpaceRAN demonstrator. Keysight provided satellite channel emulation, user segment emulation, and supporting software to help validate 5G NTN use cases including beam handover, gateway handover, and mobility management between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
Satellite connectivity is becoming an important part of global communications as industries look for resilient coverage across land, sea, and air. Terrestrial networks use ground-based infrastructure such as cellular towers and fiber-optic cables. Non-terrestrial networks rely on satellites to extend connectivity into locations where ground-based infrastructure cannot reach.
For 5G NTN, the technical challenge is more complex than extending coverage. Systems must support seamless integration between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, reliable mobility management, and high-performance connectivity across dynamic satellite orbits. These capabilities are critical for future broadband and direct-to-handheld 5G services from space.
Airbus UpNext SpaceRAN addresses this challenge through a demonstrator that explores standardized 5G NTN capabilities using advanced software-defined satellite technology. The demonstrator is designed to test 5G connectivity on two platforms: a ground demonstration that simulates a two-satellite Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation and an in-orbit demonstration with a 5G NTN payload on an Airbus LEO satellite.