Santa Rosa, CA — Keysight Technologies and KT SAT have successfully demonstrated the telecommunication industry’s first non-terrestrial network (NTN) multi-orbit handover, marking a significant leap toward the realization of resilient 6G connectivity.
Conducted at the Kumsan Satellite Network Operation Center in Korea, the proof-of-concept established a live connection using the commercial KOREASAT-6A geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite and successfully transferred the active session to an emulated low Earth orbit (LEO) link without service interruption. This achievement validates the technical ability of future networks to maintain continuous communication while switching between distinct satellite orbits, a core requirement for ensuring ubiquitous global coverage.
The demonstration is particularly notable for its alignment with emerging global standards, specifically utilizing the Ku-band spectrum with a downlink of approximately 12.3 GHz and an uplink of 14.4 GHz. By incorporating this frequency range, the collaboration directly addresses the newly standardized 3GPP Release-19 specifications, which are central to current operator deployment strategies.
Utilizing Keysight’s Network Emulator Solutions and UeSIM RAN Testing Toolset to mimic base stations and user equipment, the engineering teams successfully navigated the inherent challenges of satellite connectivity—such as high latency, Doppler effects, and dynamic link conditions—to ensure a seamless transition between the live GEO satellite and the emulated LEO environment.
This breakthrough offers a practical roadmap for the telecommunications industry as it seeks to integrate terrestrial and space-based networks. By proving that multi-orbit mobility can be validated accurately in a controlled lab setting, Keysight and KT SAT have demonstrated a cost-effective method for operators and device vendors to test advanced scenarios without relying solely on expensive field trials. This capability allows for the earlier study of propagation and interoperability, ultimately accelerating the development of “always-on” connectivity that can withstand disasters and reach remote areas. According to executives from both companies, this success paves the way for integrated services that combine the broad coverage of existing GEO satellites with the low-latency benefits of future LEO constellations.
Seo Young-soo, CEO of KT SAT, said: “As the only satellite communications service provider in Korea, KT SAT is progressively validating the applicability of NTN gNB and UE using our five operational GEO satellites. Building on the results of this trial, we will actively explore strengthening the competitiveness of our next-generation GEO satellite for the global market and delivering integrated multi-orbit communication services based on NTN systems, including traffic handover across our own GEO and future LEO/MEO constellations.”
Peng Cao, Vice President and General Manager of Keysight’s Wireless Test Group, Keysight, said: “This demonstration shows how emulation can bring future multi-orbit networks into the lab today. By combining a live GEO connection with emulated LEO conditions using NR-NTN parameters in Ku-band, Keysight gives operators and vendors a practical way to study NTN handover behavior, optimize mobility strategies, and reduce the cost and risk of early deployments.”