MSSA Delivers NTN Reference Architecture Updates

The Mobile Satellite Services Association has updated its Reference Architecture Version 2.0, adding guidance for regenerative satellite payloads and for constellations designed to support both 5G NR and NB-IoT services over shared infrastructure.

The update reflects a shift toward more capable onboard processing and more flexible service delivery from a single constellation. Regenerative payloads can move functions such as radio processing into orbit, while mixed NR and NB-IoT architectures could allow operators to serve higher-throughput broadband and lower-bandwidth IoT use cases from the same satellite system.

MSSA focuses in particular on the system-level trade-offs this creates. Regenerative designs increase onboard power and processing requirements, while NR and NB-IoT place different demands on bandwidth, coverage and beam resources. The revised architecture therefore introduces considerations including Radio Unit sharing and alternative regenerative payload configurations intended to help operators balance these constraints.

The Association’s broader aim is to provide a common technical framework for satellite operators, mobile operators, equipment vendors and chipset suppliers as NTN systems become more integrated with terrestrial mobile networks. MSSA says the architecture is intended to support greater interoperability and reduce fragmentation across the NTN service chain.

The update is significant because it moves beyond basic terrestrial-satellite integration and addresses how future NTN constellations may support multiple 3GPP radio technologies and more processing in orbit. These architectural decisions will become increasingly important as operators seek to deliver broadband, D2D and IoT services from common satellite platforms rather than building separate systems for each use case.