Keysight Technologies, in partnership with Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Business, will showcase lab-based testing of new radio non-terrestrial network (NR-NTN) devices at Mobile World Congress 2026. The demonstration highlights Keysight’s ability to validate performance for upcoming Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite deployments, including services like Starlink Direct to Cell.
As satellite connectivity becomes a key part of 5G evolution and the future of 6G, device and chipset makers need to ensure NR-NTN functionality well before large-scale rollouts. LEO satellite networks present unique challenges, such as high-speed movement, frequent handovers, varying link conditions, and precise positioning needs. Since access to live satellites is limited during early development, lab-based testing provides a reliable way to evaluate mobility, service continuity, and data throughput under realistic operating scenarios.
Keysight’s NTN Network Emulator Solutions recreate LEO satellite characteristics in a controlled laboratory environment. The MWC demonstration integrates Keysight’s 5G Network Emulator with a Samsung NR-NTN modem to validate satellite and device mobility, service continuity, and higher-throughput Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) configurations under parameters aligned with Starlink deployment scenarios.
The demonstration also showcases Keysight’s positioning emulation capabilities, enhanced through its recent Spirent acquisition. PNT Xe enables accurate global navigation satellite system-based positioning as part of an end-to-end validation workflow.
Jungwon Lee, Executive Vice President of System LSI Modem Development Team at Samsung Electronics, said: “NR-NTN introduces new technical challenges for modem design, particularly around mobility, handover, and link adaptation in LEO environments. This demonstration with Keysight allows us to validate NR-NTN modem performance under representative satellite conditions, helping ensure readiness for future satellite-based 5G services.”
Peng Cao, Vice President and General Manager, Keysight’s Wireless Test Group, said: “Direct-to-device satellite connectivity is moving from concept to deployment, making early end-to-end NR-NTN validation essential. Our lab-based, live-application testing gives the ecosystem a repeatable way to prove interoperability and performance, cutting risk and time-to-market while keeping users connected beyond terrestrial coverage.”
