Realistically Emulate Satellite Connections in the Lab

OTA Test Realistically Emulate Satellite Connections in the Lab

2025-08-25 From Hendrik Härter | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

As part of a collaboration, Anritsu's RF measurement technology will be used to emulate realistic satellite connections in the lab according to 3GPP standards. This is particularly interesting for satellites in low Earth orbit.

The MT8821C from Anritsu supports a wide frequency range and enables stable and high-performance RF testing for LTE, LTE-Advanced, Cat-M1, and NB-IoT terminals.(Image: Anritsu) — The MT8821C from Anritsu supports a wide frequency range and enables stable and high-performance RF testing for LTE, LTE-Advanced, Cat-M1, and NB-IoT terminals.
(Image: Anritsu)

The Microwave Vision Group (MVG) and Anritsu are presenting a test solution for the over-the-air (OTA) validation of non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications for mobile and IoT devices. To emulate realistic satellite connections in a lab environment according to 3GPP requirements, MVG has integrated its multi-probe OTA systems with the capabilities of the Anritsu Radio Communication Analyzer MT8821C.

As NTN deployments through LEO satellite constellations, meaning satellites in low Earth orbit, gain momentum, mobile and IoT devices must deliver robust performance under conditions that differ significantly from terrestrial operations. These include Doppler effects caused by satellite movement, greater signal delays due to long distances, complex network selection mechanisms between satellite and ground networks, and roaming across various regulatory boundaries. The ability to accurately simulate these parameters in the lab is crucial to ensure device readiness and minimize field testing.

Important Metrics in Satellite Test Conditions

MVG has configured its OTA systems, as well as the SG systems and StarLab, so that Anritsu's MT8821C serves as the central signal generation and analysis module. The MT8821C provides RF and protocol capabilities within MVG's controlled OTA testing environments. This enables manufacturers to evaluate critical metrics such as Total Radiated Power (TRP), Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS), and receiver sensitivity under satellite-like test conditions.

Sebastien Gaymay, OTA Product Manager at MVG: "By adapting our test chambers for operation with the MT8821C, we offer R&D teams the ability to emulate key components of NTN communication directly in the lab." This shifts troubleshooting forward and accelerates development cycles for satellite-enabled mobile and IoT devices.

Realistic NTN Conditions

The MT8821C supports a wide frequency range and enables stable and high-performance RF testing for LTE, LTE-Advanced, Cat-M1, and NB-IoT terminals. Within the MVG system, the WaveStudio software allows synchronized measurements, enabling test engineers to simulate and evaluate device performance under realistic NTN conditions in accordance with 3GPP TS 36.521-4.

The test is particularly suited for OEMs and integrators working on global asset tracking, remote monitoring, and industrial IoT applications where NTN networks are critical for extending coverage. Additionally, it facilitates testing against network specifications from providers like Skylo, helping manufacturers verify performance and readiness for commercial NTN services. (heh)

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.