GCF to Add Support for Satellite Connectivity and NTN to its Device Certification Program

GCF to Add Support for Satellite Connectivity and NTN to its Device Certification Program

The Global Certification Forum announced that it is adding support for satellite communications and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) to its device certification program. With the adoption of standards-based satellite connectivity in the communications industry, manufacturers can certify their devices to be directly connected to different satellite operators. This is helping enable the rapid introduction in the market of satellite-connected devices with assured interoperability.

3GPP NTN NB-IoT and eMTC technology is being included in the GCF Certification Criteria, allowing devices to certify compliance with Release 17 of the 3GPP standard.

Lars Nielsen, CEO at GCF, said: “With this new certification program, GCF is supporting the deployment of NTN/satellite communications worldwide. Satellite reaches areas where terrestrial coverage cannot go, for technical or commercial reasons, thus widening access around the globe.”

Isabelle Mauro, Director General at the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), said: “By facilitating certification for a large number of device manufacturers and models, GCF is leading the way - helping satellite operators set the stage for placing NTN-capable devices on the market. Activation of an industry-wide certification program is a great achievement towards this goal.”

"We are delighted to have been the pioneering standards-based satellite operator joining the Global Certification Forum (GCF). Paving the way for the realization of interoperable, 3GPP standards-based cellular NTN access. Sateliot proudly stands as a flag bearer, actively engaged in ideating, implementing, and leading standards, contributing significantly to the acceleration of standard adoption. Our commitment extends to actively contributing to the hastening of the commercialization of standard devices, demonstrating our dedication to advancing industry norms and fostering innovation,” added Marco Guadalupi, co-founder and CTO at Sateliot.

GCF certification starts with support for 3GPP release 17 NBN NB-IoT and eMTC. Additionally, 5G NR and evolution to NTN NB-IoT 3GPP Rel. 18 are also being developed within the forum. GCF, as a strong supporter of 5G, is committed to delivering a certification program for almost every 5G technology that is being standardized at 3GPP.

With the first commercial NTN devices already hitting the market, GCF Certification for NTN comes at the right moment and will be activated with the publication of the next release of GCF Certification Criteria in February 2024.

NBN NB-IoT is an IoT-focused technology, designed to support messaging and narrow-band use cases and to complement existing terrestrial communications in many applications. More detailed information is available in this GCF article on NTN certification.

By combining conformance and interoperability tests undertaken in laboratories with field trials on multiple commercial networks, GCF certification verifies the quality of the interoperability of wireless devices with different network elements, vendors’ infrastructure, and other services. GCF certifies hundreds of different device models each year.

Click here to learn more about the GCF Certification.

Publisher: SatNow
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GNSS Constellations - A list of all GNSS satellites by constellations

beidou

Satellite NameOrbit Date
BeiDou-3 G4Geostationary Orbit (GEO)17 May, 2023
BeiDou-3 G2Geostationary Orbit (GEO)09 Mar, 2020
Compass-IGSO7Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)09 Feb, 2020
BeiDou-3 M19Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M20Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M21Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M22Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 I3Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M23Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019
BeiDou-3 M24Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019

galileo

Satellite NameOrbit Date
GSAT0223MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0224MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0219MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0220MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0221MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0222MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0215MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0216MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0217MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0218MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017

glonass

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Kosmos 2569--07 Aug, 2023
Kosmos 2564--28 Nov, 2022
Kosmos 2559--10 Oct, 2022
Kosmos 2557--07 Jul, 2022
Kosmos 2547--25 Oct, 2020
Kosmos 2545--16 Mar, 2020
Kosmos 2544--11 Dec, 2019
Kosmos 2534--27 May, 2019
Kosmos 2529--03 Nov, 2018
Kosmos 2527--16 Jun, 2018

gps

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Navstar 82Medium Earth Orbit19 Jan, 2023
Navstar 81Medium Earth Orbit17 Jun, 2021
Navstar 78Medium Earth Orbit22 Aug, 2019
Navstar 77Medium Earth Orbit23 Dec, 2018
Navstar 76Medium Earth Orbit05 Feb, 2016
Navstar 75Medium Earth Orbit31 Oct, 2015
Navstar 74Medium Earth Orbit15 Jul, 2015
Navstar 73Medium Earth Orbit25 Mar, 2015
Navstar 72Medium Earth Orbit29 Oct, 2014
Navstar 71Medium Earth Orbit02 Aug, 2014

irnss

Satellite NameOrbit Date
NVS-01Geostationary Orbit (GEO)29 May, 2023
IRNSS-1IInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)12 Apr, 2018
IRNSS-1HSub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO)31 Aug, 2017
IRNSS-1GGeostationary Orbit (GEO)28 Apr, 2016
IRNSS-1FGeostationary Orbit (GEO)10 Mar, 2016
IRNSS-1EGeosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)20 Jan, 2016
IRNSS-1DInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)28 Mar, 2015
IRNSS-1CGeostationary Orbit (GEO)16 Oct, 2014
IRNSS-1BInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Apr, 2014
IRNSS-1AInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)01 Jul, 2013