Photo: Rohde & Schwarz

Viasat and Rohde & Schwarz are coming up with a new narrowband non-terrestrial networks (NB-NTN) IoT test plan for connectivity via satellite. The collaboration aims to ensure that chipsets, modules and devices interoperate seamlessly with Viasat’s satellite network and comply with 3GPP Release 17 standards. The two companies announced the partnership, Feb. 27.

The certification test plan with Viasat entails protocol, performance, and radio frequency (RF) test scenarios. It is based on the CMX500 one-box signaling tester from Rohde & Schwarz, a solution designed for testing various NTN technologies, including new radio (NR-NTN) and NB-NTN. In a single instrument, the CMX500 covers R&D through certification and carrier acceptance tests, aiming to guarantee reliable and repeatable results. It aims to empower engineers to accelerate development, ensure quality and confidently deploy reliable NTN services.

This is the second major announcement that Viasat has made in this area this week. Earlier it announced it was teaming up with Cubic³ and Qualcomm Technologies on a key demonstration to take place at Mobile World Congress (MWC) next week. The three parties are conducting a demonstration of satellite-enabled voice calls over a 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial satellite network for connected vehicles. The demo brings together several technologies to demonstrate how always-on connectivity can be integrated into modern software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

This includes Viasat’s satellite network, Cubic³’s global connectivity management platform (CMP) and hybrid eSIM, Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform and the NESC voice codec from Fraunhofer IIS, with additional technical support from Amarisoft.