The 5G Space Race

*Contributory article by Bejoy Pankajakshan, EVP, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at Mavenir, for Cable & Satellite International.

The integration of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) into 5G discussions marks a significant shift in the telecom landscape. By converging mobile and satellite technologies, NTN expands connectivity to broader geographical areas, addressing a critical gap in traditional telecom infrastructure. Vodafone’s recent achievement of making the first 5G satellite video call demonstrates the feasibility of satellite-based connectivity for mainstream telecom operations. This milestone is further reinforced by Apple’s substantial $1.2 billion investment in Globalstar, highlighting the tech giant’s interest in leveraging satellite technology for enhanced connectivity. Moreover, T-Mobile’s partnership with Starlink and SpaceX for their Direct-to-Cell initiative enables seamless communication between satellites and cell networks, solidifying NTN’s role in the telecom ecosystem.

The benefits of NTN are multifaceted. It offers a cost-effective solution, providing a viable alternative to traditional last-mile solutions that are often prohibitively expensive or impractical in certain areas. NTN also expands geographical reach by allowing operators to deliver essential connectivity to broader areas, effectively bridging the digital divide. Furthermore, it enhances network resilience by providing backup connectivity options, ensuring network continuity in areas affected by natural disasters or infrastructure disruptions.

As the telecom industry continues to evolve, the convergence of mobile and satellite technologies will play a crucial role in shaping the future of connectivity. With NTN at the forefront, we can expect to see increased investment in satellite-driven solutions, driving innovation and expanding access to underserved areas.

This article explores the current state of the 5G satellite market, the evolution of NTN technology, and how it is set to play a crucial role in extending global connectivity to support use cases such as broadcast and streaming. It also examines how satellite operators are navigating this new frontier.

The current state of 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)

Traditional mobile networks rely on terrestrial infrastructure—cell towers, fibre backhaul and dense urban deployments—to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity. However, in many regions, extending fibre or deploying radio access networks (RAN) to remote areas remains commercially unfeasible. NTN can augment existing terrestrial network solutions by delivering connectivity to a wide coverage area at lower cost per bit.

By leveraging satellite communications across various orbits—including Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Orbit (GEO)—NTN fill coverage gaps and provides reliable connectivity in hard-to-reach locations such as maritime environments, rural communities, challenging terrains, and aviation corridors.

Recent research from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) highlights the industry’s growing adoption of NTN. As of July 2024, 62 mobile network operators across 53 countries had announced plans to integrate satellite services, with 101 publicly acknowledged partnerships between operators and satellite providers. The shift toward standardised NTN connectivity—enabled by 3GPP Release 17—has further accelerated this adoption, ensuring interoperability between terrestrial and space-based networks.

NTN market drivers

The business case for NTN is compelling. While 5G deployments have focused heavily on urban areas, operators have found that extending coverage to rural and semi-rural regions often fails to generate the expected return on investment. Faced with this challenge, mobile network operators (MNOs) are looking to NTN as a cost-effective alternative to expanding terrestrial infrastructure to provide connectivity, voice, and broadband services.

By reducing dependency on fiber and base station deployments, NTN provide a financially viable way to extend coverage and unlock new revenue streams. They are particularly well-suited for replacing legacy 2G and 3G networks, supporting narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) applications for over-the-top (OTT) applications on smart phones, for non-Terrestrial covered areas and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication in industries such as agriculture, logistics and utilities, and for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services such as 5G Broadcast. 5G broadcasting is itself set to revolutionise the way audiences consume and deliver media content, ranging from subscription free media and public safety notifications to e-sports and e-learning.

Evolving NTN partnerships

The transition to standards-based, software-driven satellite connectivity is being driven by evolving partnerships between satellite operators’ connectivity and the 5G core of telco infrastructure software vendors.

For example, a mobile satellite network designed for IoT applications can support mission-critical machine-to-machine communications across industries such as transportation, energy, and agriculture.

Mavenir has partnered with Terrestar Solutions, a Canadian satellite operator, to deploy a fully 3GPP-compliant GEO satellite network that will extend coverage across the country. Canada presents a unique connectivity challenge, with nearly 75% of its landmass lacking wireless coverage. By integrating NTN with terrestrial infrastructure, Mavenir and Terrestar aim to provide seamless nationwide coverage. This network will support 5G NTN, IoT application on smart phone OTT apps, and mission-critical M2M communications across industries such as transportation, energy, and agriculture.

Open RAN is a suitable technology for NTN adoption because it offers open interfaces, disaggregation of network functions and an intelligent controller that can potentially support network optimizations. Interoperability between NTN and TN, such as cell reselection, is a part of 3GPP Rel18. Full interoperability between terrestrial and satellite networks will be explored by 3GPP in future releases. By leveraging software-defined architectures, 5G software specialists such as Mavenir allow operators to deploy NTN-ready networks with greater flexibility and cost efficiency.

NTN use cases: Unlocking global connectivity

NTN have the potential to transform industries by providing connectivity in previously underserved regions. Their impact spans multiple sectors:

Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) can significantly enhance Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) by extending broadband connectivity to remote and underserved areas where fiber and terrestrial networks are not feasible. NTN provides cost-effective, scalable solutions for delivering high-speed internet to homes and businesses. It also enhances network resilience by serving as a backup for terrestrial FWA, ensuring continuity during outages. With 3GPP-backed NTN integration into 5G, NTN-enabled FWA can support enterprise, industrial and emergency communication needs, making broadband more accessible and reliable worldwide.

• In rural and remote areas, NTN enable access to essential services such as e-learning, telemedicine, and smart agriculture. Farmers can leverage satellite connectivity to monitor crops, optimise irrigation and track livestock, improving efficiency and sustainability.
• In maritime and aviation communications, NTN provide seamless connectivity for ships, offshore oil rigs and aircraft. This enhances passenger broadband services, supports real-time navigation, and ensures continuous communication for critical operations.
• For disaster recovery and emergency response, NTN serve as an independent, infrastructure-free backup network. When hurricanes, earthquakes or wildfires disrupt terrestrial networks, NTN can provide first responders with uninterrupted connectivity, enabling life-saving coordination.
• In IoT and industrial applications, NTN facilitate logistics tracking, asset monitoring and predictive maintenance in remote industrial sites. From mining operations to offshore wind farms, NTN support automation and efficiency in industries where terrestrial networks are unreliable or non-existent.
• In multicasting and broadcasting NTN facilitates service scalability by leveraging the large areas covered by satellites to provide connectivity in areas without sufficient coverage from terrestrial networks (e.g., in rural communities). They can also complement terrestrial connectivity or offload traffic from terrestrial networks when needed.
• While much of the immediate focus of NTN is on narrowband IoT connectivity, there is also significant potential for NTN technology to support 5G broadcast, the direct-to-device (D2D) solution that enhances content distribution efficiency while reducing network congestion. Unlike traditional unicast mobile streaming, where each device requests an individual data stream, 5G broadcast operates on a one-to-many model, like how television and radio signals are transmitted. This approach significantly reduces network strain and enables seamless content delivery, particularly in scenarios where mass distribution is required. For operators, 5G broadcast can deliver services in areas where ATSC 3.0 faces limitations due to its reliance on high-power TV tower infrastructure. Unlike ATSC 3.0, which requires dense terrestrial transmitter deployment, 5G Broadcast leverages both cellular networks and NTN, enabling coverage in remote, maritime, and underserved regions where TV tower installation is impractical.
• By incorporating NTN, 5G FWA solutions gain expanded coverage and improved reliability, enabling high-performance broadband connectivity for both residential and enterprise users. This approach proves particularly valuable in underserved regions where deploying traditional wired infrastructure remains impractical or economically unfeasible, offering a cost-effective alternative with carrier-grade service quality.

Conclusion: The future of NTN in 5G

The integration of NTN into 5G networks has transitioned from a conceptual idea to a necessary step towards achieving global connectivity. NTN provides a cost-effective, scalable, and standardized solution to ensure coverage in even the most remote areas. With 5G NTN, high-speed broadband access will become a reality, supporting FWA users and bridging the digital divide.

Standardisation, driven by the industry’s progress toward 3GPP Release 19 and beyond, will address advanced capabilities and open-up opportunities to a broader ecosystem with new partnerships. Confronted with regulatory pressure to bridge connectivity gaps, demand from vertical industries for ubiquitous connectivity and the changing economics of space-based communications, the message for mobile operators and satellite providers alike is clear: the time to invest in NTN is now. By doing so, they can capitalize on the emerging opportunities and play a crucial role in shaping the future of global connectivity.