Gatehouse Satcom and Rohde & Schwarz Partner to Advance 5G NTN Testing
Gatehouse Satcom has formalised a collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz to strengthen validation and testing capabilities for 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN), as the industry moves closer to commercial deployment.
The partnership focuses on improving how 5G IoT-NTN and NR-NTN technologies are tested under realistic conditions, combining Gatehouse Satcom’s NTN software expertise with Rohde & Schwarz’s test and measurement platforms. A key component is the use of the CMX500 system to develop more advanced orbit and radio channel emulation, enabling more accurate modelling of satellite environments.
This is particularly important as NTN systems introduce complexities not seen in terrestrial networks, including long propagation delays, Doppler effects and varying orbital dynamics. More realistic lab-based testing is therefore critical to validate performance before large-scale deployment.
Under the collaboration, Gatehouse Satcom will contribute end-to-end test results and engineering insights, while Rohde & Schwarz will continue enhancing its NTN-focused test solutions for the broader ecosystem.
The announcement highlights a growing focus on a less visible but essential part of the NTN stack:
Shift to implementation: The industry is moving from standards development toward real-world deployment, increasing the need for robust validation
Test environment realism: Accurate emulation of satellite conditions is becoming critical for performance assurance
Ecosystem collaboration: Closer alignment between software providers and test vendors is needed to accelerate development cycles
Strategically, the partnership reflects a maturing phase in the NTN market. As more players prepare for commercial services, the ability to validate system performance under realistic conditions is becoming a key bottleneck.
While much of the attention in NTN has focused on satellites, spectrum and operator partnerships, testing infrastructure is emerging as a critical enabler of scale. Improved validation capabilities can reduce technical risk, shorten development timelines and support interoperability across vendors.