NICT and Sharp Build 5G NTN Testbed for Satellite-Mobility Trials in Japan
NICT and Sharp have established new satellite communications infrastructure at the Kashima Space Technology Center in Ibaraki, creating a domestic test environment for 5G non-terrestrial network demonstrations in Japan.
The infrastructure is designed to support technology verification and communications testing for 5G NTN, applying 5G-based standards to satellite communications. It is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2026, subject to the required licences for satellite communications operations.
The testbed includes a Ka-band parabolic gateway antenna, network control equipment and supporting systems that connect satellite communications infrastructure with terrestrial networks. NICT and Sharp said the facility will help address the limited availability of domestic 5G NTN testing environments in Japan, where some verification work has previously relied on overseas facilities.
The project is closely tied to the development of common 5G NTN specifications. As standardisation progresses, satellite services are expected to become easier to access through terminals built around shared specifications, potentially allowing a single device to connect to multiple satellite networks.
NICT and Sharp are also working on satellite communications user terminals, including efforts to reduce their size and weight. That work is particularly relevant for mobility applications, where terminals must operate reliably on vehicles, drones and other moving platforms.
Once operational, the Kashima infrastructure will be used to test communications quality and stability in mobile environments. Demonstrations will include user terminals mounted on vehicles and drones, with a focus on practical satellite communications use cases in the mobility sector.
A key part of the programme will be handover testing between terrestrial cellular networks and satellite communications. NICT and Sharp plan to verify technologies that allow seamless switching between the two while maintaining ongoing connectivity, an essential requirement for future 5G NTN services.
The work could support applications including autonomous driving, drone operations and other mobility services that need resilient connectivity beyond terrestrial network coverage.