OQ Technology Wins ESA Contract to Explore 5G NTN Innovation
OQ Technology has won a major contract from the European Space Agency under its ARTES 4.0 program to lead CREST-5G, a pioneering project that will evaluate Time Division Duplexing (TDD) in C-band for future 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks. Backed by the Luxembourg Space Agency and carried out in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg, the initiative aims to improve how satellite and terrestrial 5G networks integrate, focusing on spectrum efficiency and direct-to-device communication.
CREST-5G will assess the feasibility and performance of TDD in satellite networks, contribute to 3GPP standards, and develop a software simulator for testing. OQ Technology says the project is a leap forward in advancing satellite-based 5G IoT connectivity — aligning with global regulatory shifts like the FCC’s new Supplemental Coverage from Space framework.