Square Peg and VIAVI Partner on 5G NTN Test Platform
Square Peg Communications, a Canadian company that enables the emulation and testing of complex satellite and hybrid networks, today announced a strategic partnership with VIAVI Solutionsaimed at strengthening testing and validation capabilities for 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN).
With satellite and terrestrial communications continuing to converge under 3GPP standards, developers are facing a new set of challenges that go beyond traditional mobile testing. NTN systems must contend with factors such as large Doppler shifts, long propagation delays, moving satellite handovers and interoperability between terrestrial and satellite networks.
The collaboration will combine Square Peg’s expertise in satellite channel emulation with VIAVI’s established wireless testing portfolio. The companies’ joint solution pairs Square Peg’s RLS-2100 satellite channel emulator with VIAVI’s TM500 Network Tester, enabling developers to recreate realistic NTN conditions in a controlled laboratory environment.
The platform has been designed to support a broad range of use cases, including NR-NTN validation, gNodeB testing, beam and satellite handovers, mobility scenarios and service continuity between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
While much of the attention in the NTN sector is focused on satellite launches and operator partnerships, testing infrastructure is becoming an increasingly important part of the ecosystem. As commercial direct-to-device services move from trials to deployment, vendors need ways to validate performance and interoperability before networks go live.