On Thursday, October 22, 2026, test and measurement provider Keysight Technologies, Inc. announced that Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) has selected its New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network (NR-NTN) test solutions to expand acceptance testing for satellite-enabled devices and networks.
The agreement equips South Korea’s national certification body with radio frequency (RF) and Radio Resource Management (RRM) validation tools as the mobile ecosystem transitions toward standardized 5G satellite architectures.
Satellite-Terrestrial Convergence and Certification Demands
As satellite communications converge with terrestrial cellular networks, equipment vendors are shifting from early Long-Term Evolution (LTE)-based direct-to-device services toward Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) NR-NTN standards. While earlier proprietary systems supported basic emergency messaging, NR-NTN accommodates broad device categories, higher broadband throughput, and expanded satellite connectivity. This transition requires device manufacturers, chipset vendors, and network operators to validate RF performance and interoperability through standardized acceptance testing before commercial deployment.
Emulation Architecture and GCF Test Validation
Under the agreement, KTL will integrate Keysight’s Wireless Network Emulation Solutions to execute pre-conformance and formal certification workflows. The platform evaluates RF transmission behavior and RRM performance under simulated orbital dynamics, modeling high Doppler shifts and variable propagation delays inherent to satellite links.
The deployment builds upon technical benchmarks established when Keysight and Samsung validated 3GPP Release 19 NR-NTN with an S-band connectivity milestone earlier this year. Keysight’s test portfolio also incorporates expanded test case coverage recently approved by the Global Certification Forum (GCF), leading post-meeting validation counts across RF and RRM criteria.
Executive Perspectives on Certification Infrastructure
Leadership from both organizations emphasized that independent validation is critical to reducing commercial deployment risks.
“The establishment of this NR-NTN infrastructure is significant in that it extends the mobile communication testing and certification capabilities accumulated from 2G to 5G technology to the satellite communication sector,” stated Song Tae-seung, Director General of the S.M.A.R.T. Industry Division at KTL.
“NR-NTN standards are moving from specification to implementation, making trusted validation essential for the next phase of satellite connectivity,” added Muthu Kumaran, General Manager of Device Acceptance Solutions at Keysight.
Ecosystem Commercialization and Standards Roadmap
The implementation of standardized test benches at KTL enables hardware developers to streamline compliance for upcoming 3GPP Release 18 and Release 19 commercial chipsets. Establishing open-standard pre-conformance pipelines accelerates ecosystem readiness for satellite-enabled consumer and industrial devices entering commercial operation through 2027.
