Update on 5G Non-Terrestrial Networking

Update on 5G Non-Terrestrial Networking

This IDC Market Perspective provides an update of satellite 5G non-terrestrial networking (NTN). 5G NTN is a promising and highly advanced class of communications configurations that will start with digital transparent processors and expand to fully regenerative payload satellites. The initial bands that the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has agreed on are the S and L bands, which have better radio propagation characteristics than Ku and Ka bands and are expected to be included in the 5G NTN domain in Release 18+. "It has taken over three decades to pick up from the original dreams of the early low Earth orbit constellations, which wanted to provide voice and data to the masses. With the expanding coverage of 4G/5G terrestrial networks across the globe, the role of satellite data connectivity (broadband and narrowband) will be to complement and coexist with terrestrial mobile networks and take advantage of edge computing. The big challenge will be to get agreements between the major markets on the frequency bands, but the 3GPP has made important progress with the designation of n255 and n256 bands," says Bill Rojas, adjunct research director, IDC's Asia/Pacific Communications Group.

Please Note: Extended description available upon request.