With the technology of satellite systems advancing rapidly, non-terrestrial networks (NTN are becoming increasing in important in the communications network, bringing connectivity to areas where traditional mobile networks can not reach easily.
The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) has released its Reference Architecture framework, with key recommendations that hope to accelerate and advance the development, deployment, and worldwide integration of NTN solutions. The aim to help industry stakeholders achieve “scalable, secure, and high-performance,” says MSSA.
The MSSA document urges the industry to design NTN systems with “system-level design.” According to trade body says the approach would enable devices to operate more efficiently and allow users to move between satellite and terrestrial networks without any compromise to service quality.
“The Reference Architecture is a major step forward in shaping a cohesive and interoperable NTN ecosystem,” said Jeff Snyder, MSSA Reference Architecture Work Group Lead and Chief Technology Officer at MSSA member, Omnispace.
MSSA highlights technology, integration, and service requirements
The MSSA’s Reference Architecture proposes recommendations that can help overcome the main challenges facing the service delivery chain. These include details on satellite constellations, ground system operations, and mobile device connectivity. Its primary goal is to ensure the entire system can support increasing demand for faster, more dependable and secure NTN performance and coverage.
The MSSA outlines ensure NTN systems integrate effectively with terrestrial networks for the diverse applications and devices across the globe, delivering service consistency and adoption in the market and every network.
The Reference Architecture document also provides insights into voice, data, messaging, and IoT services delivery through NTN 3GPP compliant technologies, helping guarantee secure service supply in the many different environments that make up the global network.
MSSA details the most important use cases that NTN systems must handle, like network selection, network sharing, and roaming, ensuring NTN smooth operations in any country and run by any operator, while meeting national and intra-national regulations.
Supported by leading global standards bodies like 3GPP and GSMA, MSSA’s framework shows the challenges currently facing the industry, and underscores the importance of advancing reliable, secure, and scalable NTN service delivery provision.
(Image source: “True-Color Image of Southeastern United States from NASA’s Newest Earth Observing Satellite Suomi NPP” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.)
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