Testing 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks in the Lab: A Practical Approach to Innovation

5G non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) use satellites and high-altitude platforms to deliver coverage where traditional infrastructure falls short, from remote islands to disaster zones.

As the industry moves toward direct-to-device connections, NTNs promise to expand global coverage and support mission-critical communications, but they also introduce unique technical challenges such as high latency, Doppler shifts, and massive scalability requirements.

This paper explores how innovators are addressing those challenges in the lab before satellites ever leave the ground. It covers the latest approaches to NTN testing — from digital twins that simulate orbital conditions to solutions that validate performance across thousands of devices.

The goal is simple: ensure that when these networks go live, they work reliably, efficiently, and profitably.