Keysight and KT SAT Achieve Industry-First Multi-Orbit NTN Handover Between GEO Satellite and Emulated LEO Link
News Summary
Keysight Technologies, in collaboration with KT SAT, has successfully demonstrated the industry's first NR Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) multi-orbit handover. Conducted at KT SAT’s Kumsan Satellite Network Operation Center, the demonstration showed session continuity between a live KOREASAT-6A Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite and an emulated Low Earth Orbit (LEO) link. This breakthrough, performed over a live Ku-band GEO connection (DL ~12.3 GHz / UL ~14.4 GHz), validates the newly standardized 3GPP Rel-19 Ku-band NTN spectrum and marks a significant milestone for core 6G capabilities. Keysight’s Network Emulator Solutions and UeSIM RAN Testing Toolset were instrumental, enabling operators and device vendors to validate NTN mobility scenarios in a lab environment, accelerating time-to-market and reducing costs. KT SAT CEO Seo Young-soo stated the company's intention to strengthen its next-generation GEO satellite competitiveness and deliver integrated multi-orbit communication services based on NTN systems.
Background
Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) are a key component of 5G-Advanced and a foundational element for 6G, aiming to extend network coverage beyond terrestrial limits using satellites, drones, and high-altitude platforms. Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites operate at approximately 36,000 km, offering wide coverage but with significant latency. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites operate at about 500-2000 km, providing lower latency but requiring larger constellations for global coverage and complex handover mechanisms. Multi-orbit handover, the ability to seamlessly switch communication links between different satellite orbits (e.g., GEO to LEO), is critical for providing continuous, low-latency, and resilient connectivity, especially as 6G targets ubiquitous coverage. Ku-band is a frequency band used for satellite communications, newly standardized in 3GPP Rel-19 for NTN. Keysight Technologies is a leading provider of electronic design and test solutions, and KT SAT is the sole satellite communications service provider in Korea.
In-Depth AI Insights
What are the broader strategic implications of this multi-orbit handover beyond mere technical achievement? - This achievement is not merely a technical feasibility demonstration; it significantly de-risks the complex integration of space and terrestrial networks essential for future 6G architectures by validating intricate multi-orbit handovers in a controlled lab environment. This reliance on emulation reduces the need for expensive and time-consuming field trials. - It provides a clear roadmap and toolset for global operators to evolve their services from traditional point-to-point satellite links to more resilient, always-on multi-orbit solutions. This is crucial for delivering continuous services in remote, maritime, or disaster-affected areas, thereby expanding the reach and resilience of national digital infrastructure. - Furthermore, such capabilities have profound implications for seamless, jam-resistant connectivity in national security and military communications, which is critical for any nation to maintain a strategic advantage in a volatile geopolitical landscape. How will this advancement impact Keysight and the broader test and measurement industry? - Keysight's central role in this 'industry-first' through its Network Emulator Solutions solidifies its leadership position in 6G R&D and the NTN testing market. As the world moves towards next-generation communication technologies, the demand for sophisticated testing and validation tools will surge. - This demonstration is also likely to stimulate higher demand for its advanced emulation platforms as other operators and device manufacturers seek to replicate and validate similar multi-orbit scenarios before actual deployment. - For the broader test and measurement industry, this signals a need for developing even more complex, integrated solutions capable of addressing multi-band, multi-orbit, and cross-domain communication challenges, thus driving innovation and investment within the sector. Considering President Donald J. Trump's 'America First' policies, what potential impacts could this technological leap have on international collaborations and supply chains? - While this collaboration involves a U.S. company, Keysight, and a South Korean company, KT SAT, its globally applicable nature aligns with the broader Trump administration strategy of promoting U.S. technological leadership. By enabling global NTN development, U.S. companies can ensure their technical standards and solutions are adopted internationally. - However, as nations seek to build more resilient digital infrastructures, this technology could also incentivize countries to develop their own NTN capabilities under sovereign control, potentially leading to fragmentation of supply chains or even regional silos in critical technology areas. This could pose challenges for chip and device manufacturers operating across different markets. - In the long term, NTN deployment and interoperability will become a key area for international standard-setting and geopolitical competition. Nations or companies that master core technologies like multi-orbit handover will wield greater influence in shaping the future global communications ecosystem, potentially sparking a race for technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure security among nations.