Leading telecommunications company Rohde & Schwarz has joined forces with chipset provider MediaTek to validate the industry’s first protocol conformance test cases for 3GPP Release 17 Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology. This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone in advancing the adoption of NTN-based IoT applications across various sectors, including consumer electronics, automotive, agriculture, maritime, logistics, and mining.
The partnership between Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek aims to ensure the conformity and reliability of NTN NB-IoT devices, paving the way for their market introduction. The successful validation of these test cases, conducted on MediaTek’s NTN IoT-capable MT6825 chipset, adheres to the 3GPP 36.523-1 specifications. This achievement reinforces the vision of ubiquitous connectivity on land, at sea, and in the air, propelling the development and deployment of next-generation IoT devices.
The protocol conformance test cases, developed based on 3GPP RAN#5 specifications provided by the ETSI task force MCC160, focus on verifying changes in the Medium Access Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), and Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layers. These tests assess the device’s ability to efficiently transmit Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, handle multiple Tracking Area Codes (TACs), utilize Rel. 17 extended reordering, provide accurate NAS reject causes and responses, manage Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) within the NTN context under varying Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configurations, and interpret timing advance from System Information Block Type 31 (SIB31) contents.
To support the development and certification of NTN NB-IoT devices, Rohde & Schwarz has expanded its market-leading NB-IoT solution to incorporate 3GPP Release 17 NTN features. The R&S CMW500 radio communication tester serves as the core tool for conducting these protocol conformance tests. This tester enables engineers to assess NTN NB-IoT devices under realistic conditions by establishing a real-time, comprehensive connection with a simulated satellite network. The solution emulates different satellite constellations, including geosynchronous orbit (GSO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and low earth orbit (LEO), facilitating testing of relevant signaling and RF scenarios in line with the 3GPP Release 17 specification.
NTN NB-IoT devices pose unique challenges due to factors such as extended delay and Doppler effect, low Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), power-saving mechanisms, satellite ephemerides, and GNSS acquisition. The test solution provided by Rohde & Schwarz empowers engineers to tackle these challenges by accurately simulating the complex conditions that NTN NB-IoT devices will encounter in real-world scenarios.
Over the past year, Rohde & Schwarz has collaborated closely with leading chipset vendors to develop comprehensive test cases for research and development validation of NTN NB-IoT Release 17 features. This collaborative effort highlights the company’s commitment to driving innovation and ensuring the seamless integration of next-generation IoT technologies.
The successful validation of the industry’s first 3GPP Rel. 17 NTN NB-IoT protocol conformance test cases by Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek represents a significant milestone in the evolution of NTN-based IoT applications. This achievement not only accelerates the adoption of NTN NB-IoT devices across multiple sectors but also lays the groundwork for future device certification by industry committees such as the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB). With the continued advancement of NTN technology, the vision of ubiquitous connectivity and next-generation IoT solutions becomes increasingly attainable.
