Five international organizations have successfully conducted a live demonstration of a new satellite-based 5G technology designed to deliver mobile connectivity in remote areas. The initiative, led by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), included SKY Perfect JSAT, TMY Technology, Rohde & Schwarz, and VIAVI Solutions.
This groundbreaking event, held at the Singapore Pavilion during the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, showcased what the collaborators called an “end-to-end cross-country 5G new radio non-terrestrial network (NTN).” A 5G signal originating from Singapore was transmitted through a satellite antenna to a geostationary satellite operated by JSAT. The signal then reached a ground station in Japan, where it was processed via a 5G base station and core network emulator.
The demonstration marked a significant milestone—proving the potential of communications between space-based NTNs and terrestrial networks. It also established that current geostationary satellites can support the 5G NR standards outlined by the 3GPP.
The participating organizations highlighted this achievement as a crucial step toward the integration of NTN with terrestrial networks in the upcoming 6G era. Such a network blend is expected to provide continuous and reliable global connectivity.
SKY Perfect JSAT’s CEO, Eiichi Yonekura, emphasized their pride in contributing to this pioneering effort and outlined their ongoing commitment to building a multi-layered Universal NTN platform that connects mobile and satellite systems seamlessly.
VIAVI Solutions’ CTO, Dr. Sameh Yamany, echoed the significance of the project, describing it as a pivotal advancement in achieving global mobile communication. The collaboration also introduced an electronically steered antenna (ESA), enhancing the applicability of NTN technology in industries like maritime, autonomous vehicles, and high-speed satellite communications.