The Year of Satellite Communications – 3GPP NTN Technology Layout and Global Industry Chain Analysis

With the evolution of 3GPP Release 17 to Release 19 standards, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) have become the core technology for filling gaps in terrestrial networks and achieving seamless global coverage. By integrating satellites and high-altitude platform station, NTN is leading communications from two-dimensional to three-dimensional space. In 2026, as major players like Skylo and Starlink drive commercialization, satellite direct-to-device (D2D) and IoT applications are poised for growth.

 

NTN Core Technology: Parallel Tracks of IoT-NTN and NR-NTN

NTN technology leverages synchronous/asynchronous (GSO/NGSO) orbit satellites and high-altitude platform station (HAPS) to cover 80% of land and 95% of oceans unreachable by terrestrial base stations. It currently follows two main technical paths, designed for different bandwidth and power consumption needs:

• 3GPP Rel-17 and beyond, IoT-NTN (Low-Power IoT):
  Enables low-power devices to transmit data in real-time in extreme environments (e.g., deep mountains, open seas), bringing transformative opportunities for smart agriculture and cross-border logistics.
• 3GPP Rel-17 and beyond, NR-NTN (High-Performance Mobile Broadband):
  Supports 5G NR technology for high-speed data transmission, further enhancing inter-satellite links (ISL) and low-latency performance, making direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity a reality.

 

Technical Category	3GPP Standard	Applications	Key Features
IoT-NTN	Rel-17 and beyond	Agricultural monitoring, logistics tracking, environmental sensing	Low power consumption/cost, narrow bandwidth
NR-NTN	Rel-17 and beyond	Voice calls, broadband Internet access	High bandwidth, low latency (primarily LEO)

 

Industry Leaders' trends: Building the Satellite Communications Ecosystem

The 2026 commercialization wave stems from the maturing hardware and software ecosystems:

• Skylo & Nordic Team Up: Skylo's world-leading "Standard Plus" network (Rel-17 compliant narrowband service covering 36 countries and areas globally) pairs with Nordic's nRF9151 communication module. This highly integrated module combines LTE-M/NB-IoT, satellite connectivity, and GNSS positioning, allowing developers to incorporate satellite functions into existing products at low cost and high efficiency.
• Proliferation of Terminal Devices: From Google Pixel 9 with Qualcomm X80 to Motorola devices using MediaTek MT6825 chips, IoT-NTN is becoming standard in flagship smartphones.

 

Global Application Scenarios and Practical Progress

• Enhancing Resilience and Disaster Response
  • Resilient Communications: Reflecting on the late-2025 Taiwan eastern seabed’s cable incident, which exposed terrestrial network vulnerabilities, NTN backup mechanisms have become a focal point. Through high/medium/low-orbit satellite communication backup systems,NTN has become a key line of defense that all parties focus on to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• IoT and Supply Chain Management
  • Asset Tracking: Satellites cover 95% of global oceans and 80% of land, providing uninterrupted monitoring for ocean shipping and cross-border logistics.
  • Maritime and Air Transport: Starlink currently serves 150,000 vessels worldwide; in Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom has completed 3GPP IoT-NTN testing, targeting rural and shipping markets.

 

Future Outlook: 2027 as the Turning Point

3GPP Release 19 had its ASN.1 frozen by the end of last year, adding n252 and Ku-band support for high-speed transmission. IoT-NTN based on 3GPP conformance testing is now mandatory by GCF and PTCRB, while NR-NTN based on 3GPP conformance testing became mandatory by PTCRB in December last year (NAPRD03 V6.23). NR-NTN GCF conformance testing cases based on 3GPP Release 17 are expected to be published in Q1 this year. It’s expecting that the NR-NTN products (chips, modules, terminals, etc.) with 3GPP compliant standard will be launched progressively in the second half of 2026.

NTN will enter a full deployment phase by the end of 2026, with more IoT-NTN products launching and NR-NTN products hitting the market. By 2027, as supply chains mature and satellite constellations scale, satellite connectivity will become the "standard configuration" for smart devices, poised to eliminate global communication dead zones.

 

Is your NTN product ready to go global?

In this era of soaring NTN business opportunities, we believe "compatibility" and "stability" are key to product success. SGS offers comprehensive NTN communication product testing and verification services to help you seize the initiative in a rapidly changing market:

• 3GPP Standards Compliance Testing:
  Ensures your devices meet the latest GCF and PTCRB international specifications based on 3GPP standards.
• Multi-Band Validation Services: Covers critical frequency bands for IoT-NTN and NR-NTN testing.
• Skylo & Mobile Operator Validation Services:
  Accelerates commercial access certification from major networks like Skylo.

 

If you want to know more about INTN or certification requirements, please contact us:

📧  twwireless.MKT@sgs.com  ☎ (02) 2299-3279 # 1530 / 1522 / 1567