Kratos Defence & Security Solutions has announced the demonstration of an end-to-end 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solution, achieved through a collaboration with satellite operator Intelsat. The test marks a major step forward in integrating satellite and terrestrial networks to enable ubiquitous 5G connectivity worldwide. The demonstration combined Kratos’ OpenSpace software-defined satellite ground system with Intelsat’s cloud-native, virtualised 5G core and satellite infrastructure, highlighting satellite’s potential to extend 5G services far beyond terrestrial boundaries.
The breakthrough aligns with the third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 17, which formally introduced NTN support into global 5G standards. With this advancement, both Kratos and Intelsat are positioning themselves at the forefront of 5G-NTN development. While Kratos continues to work with leading industry partners to deliver cloud-native 5G-NTN capabilities to satellite operators, Intelsat is investing in a next-generation, multi-layer, software-defined network aimed at bridging the gap between space and terrestrial communications.
A central element of this collaboration is the satellite base station, a 5G NTN gNodeB, developed by Kratos and Radisys as fully cloud-native software integrated into the OpenSpace platform. In a live over-the-air demonstration, the system was deployed over Intelsat’s Galaxy 19 Ku-band GEO satellite. The team successfully orchestrated a 5G NR-NTN cell, validating the solution’s real-world functionality. Emulators representing multiple user devices, provided by VIAVI Solutions, connected to the network and transmitted data flows from various remote locations. This proved that any standards-compliant 5G terminal can seamlessly access satellite-based connectivity, a vital capability for enabling broadband access in areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure.
Greg Quiggle, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Kratos, said: “This demonstration represents a significant milestone in both companies’ progress in advancing ubiquitous 5G connectivity that spans both terrestrial and space networks. This remarkable technical accomplishment demonstrates the value of the OpenSpace virtual ground system in enabling that connectivity.”
The 5G-NTN framework is expected to unlock a new wave of communication services in remote or underserved regions by enabling seamless handoff and service continuity across terrestrial and satellite networks. Kratos’ OpenSpace platform plays a central role in this transformation by applying software-defined networking concepts, widely adopted in modern terrestrial networks, to traditionally static satellite infrastructure. This approach supports a unified, standards-based architecture that allows for dynamic, scalable delivery of 5G services in collaboration with terrestrial network operators.
With this successful trial, Kratos and Intelsat move the industry closer to achieving truly global 5G coverage, setting the stage for a new era of universal, high-speed connectivity.
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