Q: Why is the integration of 5G NTN significant for the industry?
Sridhar: We believe the incorporation of 5G NTN, or non-terrestrial networking capabilities, is transformational for both the satcom and telco industries. And this development isn’t coming from one side of the marketplace: it comes from both. On the one hand, satellite operators want a more streamlined way to integrate with terrestrial networks. This would allow them to introduce more service offerings, both for existing customers and for reaching new ones. On the other hand, telco providers are increasingly looking to add satellite connectivity to their portfolios to expand their regional coverage and target markets. The ultimate goal is to enable seamless roaming between non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for both industries.
Q: What makes the transition to a standard-based 5G NTN network so important for satcom?
Sridhar: It’s about evolving towards standardization and building a foundation for interoperability. What makes all this possible is the 3GPP standard, specifically the evolving NTN standards across multiple releases- Release 17 and 18 and soon Release 19. Today, satcom networks have limited capabilities to support this level of integration, but these standards are changing the landscape entirely.
Standardization across the full protocol stack, Layer 1, 2 and 3 is essential. Using common chipsets and a 3GPP-compliant architecture targets to reduce costs and simplifies deployment, from remote terminals to the core network. More importantly, it ensures seamless interoperability, enabling all components to communicate effectively, just as in terrestrial mobile networks.
The other piece is the backend processing such as billing, authentication and provisioning enabling the integration of the networks. This includes integration, the diagonal connections between satcom networks and telco networks, and even within the satcom ecosystem itself. Provisioning, billing, authentication, security – all of these are wrapped into 3GPP, which is an essential part of the 5G standard. It’s the foundation of interoperability.
Q: How does iDirect bridge the path to 5G NTN for satcom players?
Sridhar: Because the shift from current non-3GPP satcom networks to 5G/6G will be a gradual journey, much like the Telco industry’s evolution from 2G to 3G, 4G, and eventually 5G, it is essential to offer our customers an innovative path forward. Thus, we believe embracing hybrid methodologies is vital to empowering our customers to operate hybrid networks effectively for the foreseeable future, enabling them to transition at a pace that aligns with their specific business priorities. Right now, many of our customers already have a deployed satcom network that’s functional, with significant investments in modems and related infrastructure. The goal is protecting these investments as much as possible while supporting their gradual evolution towards 5G NTN, a unified, interoperable network that enables seamless roaming between 5G TN, 5G NR NTN and non-3GPP NTN systems. We aim to make this transition scalable and sustainable, ensuring global connectivity without increasing costs or complexity.
First, we will focus on providing access to the 5G Core for these non-3GPP NTN networks via an Interworking Gateway Function. That way satellite operators can benefit from the operational efficiencies of the 5G Core without necessarily needing to replace their satcom infrastructure right away because it makes non-3GPP UEs appear 3GPP-compatible. This also lets our satellite operator partners use our more efficient satellite specific waveforms DVB-S2X and Mx-DMA MRC for 5G Core powered networks until 5G NR’s efficiency is fully optimized.
Secondly, we will provide full access to the 5G Core for 3GPP-compliant networks leveraging 5G Radio Access Technologies (RAT), incl. gNodeB with 5G NR NTN and 5G NTN UE portfolio support. For that we will equip our cloud-native, multi-orbit ground system, Intuition, with a satellite-optimized gNodeB so it performs efficiently within the complexities of satcom networks. As 5G NR waveforms mature—and we continue to contribute to making them more efficient for non-terrestrial environments—we are steadily progressing towards a fully native 5G and future-ready 6G architecture.
Q: Can you explain how this enables hybrid roaming?
Sridhar: Certainly. We will enable inter-provider roaming between non-3GPP NTN networks using proven high performance and efficient waveforms, such as DVB-S2X and Mx-DMA MRC, with interoperability facilitated by iDirect Interworking Gateway Function and a 5G Core. Once the 5G NR waveform is optimized for satellite and 3GPP 5G NTN access, we will provide full 3GPP 5G NTN access with our satellite optimized gNodeB, 5G NR waveforms and unifying NMS allowing operators to roam freely between their non-3GPP NTN systems to 3GPP 5G NR NTN networks and also between their 5G NR NTN networks. Hybrid UEs would make this possible, as these modems support both and can intelligently roam between them, eventually extending to seamless switching between 3GPP NTN and terrestrial networks.
This level of hybrid roaming enabling interoperability across platforms and multi-provider networks holds significant potential to strengthen the overall ecosystem. Beyond improving the user experience—through broader coverage and seamless connectivity—it also fosters a “stronger together” dynamic among service providers. By reducing vendor lock-in and encouraging collaboration, it paves the way for unified operations, multi-orbit integration, and a more resilient and scalable NTN landscape.
Q: Can you elaborate on how your hybrid approach is similar to the Telco journey?
Sridhar: Sure. If you look at telco operators, they’ve navigated similar transitions, operating 3G, 4G/LTE alongside emerging technologies like 5G for years before phasing older networks out. They needed to build out their IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core, basically their packet-switched core, that supports 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi connectivity before standardizing on a 5G core.
In satcom that standardization is equally essential. Today, these multi-platform and multi-vendor satcom networks are highly fragmented. There’s no overarching standard that facilitates interoperability among these networks. By introducing a common, standard-based 5G Core, we’re solving two problems for our customers at once. First, it unifies previously siloed networks, paving the way for satcom interconnectivity. Second, it opens opportunities to roam freely and collaborate across the larger converged industry.
To do so, we’re taking the same modular approach from the Telco industry and applying it to satcom by first building backend access to 5G Core non-3GPP networks bridging the current state to future capabilities. We will then quickly move towards a full 5G NR NTN network and add support for hybrid roaming between non-3GPP, 3GPP 5G NR NTN and 5G NR TN with hybrid UEs.
Q: How does iDirect differentiate itself in this complex transition?
Sridhar: Our expertise in managing non-terrestrial networks is what sets us apart. Satcom networks aren’t like terrestrial ones. They’re essentially a three-dimensional challenge.
For example, in terrestrial networks, cell sites are fixed. Their locations, capacities, and parameters are well known, so the only dynamic variable is user movement. Non-terrestrial networks, on the other hand, introduce moving satellites across various orbits, environmental interferences, and mobile terminals. This adds a layer of complexity that terrestrial systems don’t encounter.
iDirect’s experience in navigating these challenges makes us a key contributor to the 5G NTN standard, we are heavily involved in the 5G NR waveform and 5G NTN working streams in the 3GPP consortium. We understand the nuances of handling issues like doppler effects, noise interference, and handovers in non-terrestrial environments. Coupled with this, our cloud-native Intuition ground system drives resource efficiency by abstracting software from hardware. Additionally, our software-defined, multi-waveform modem approach—exemplified by our 450 SDR modem—is already laying the foundation for a 5G NTN, multi-waveform environment.
The introduction of 5G NR NTN signals the beginning of a new era in terminal technologies and solutions. iDirect’s plan is to support User Terminal vendors through its highly integrated hybrid UE platform, enabling access to a new generation of 5G NR NTN-capable user terminals, helping accelerate innovation and readiness across the ecosystem.
And as we move toward 6G, AI-powered networks will unlock unprecedented levels of scalability and intelligence. We are already showcasing generative AI proof of concepts (PoC) and soon Agentic AI PoCs will follow.
The 5G/6G transition is a game-changer for satcom’s integration into global communication systems. Standardization allows networks to interoperate and collaborate while increasing their scalability and efficiency.
For customers, it maximizes the return on current infrastructure, introduces new levels of operational efficiency, and prepares them for 6G’s embedded AI capabilities. This evolution will redefine satcom, combining satellite expertise with the global reach and standardization of terrestrial systems.