Rohde & Schwarz has expanded the capabilities of its CMX500 radio communication tester to cover all non terrestrial network (NTN) technologies, making it a comprehensive solution that covers the entire NTN ecosystem for reliable services. This will showcased at MWC Barcelona 2026.
“As NTN becomes an integral part of the 5G ecosystem, it brings a new level of complexity in validation and testing. Our R&D teams have continuously invested in scaling up our CMX500 one-box tester to address exactly these technical hurdles. We’re excited to showcase this upgraded CMX500 one-box tester at MWC 2026, which now fully supports all NTN technologies in a single, integrated platform,” said Goce Talaganov, Vice President of Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz.
The CMX500 one-box signalling tester from Rohde & Schwarz has evolved into a versatile, all-in-one platform for NTN testing, supporting NR-NTN, NB-NTN and Direct-to-Cell (D2C, DTC) technologies within a single unit. With the CMX500, users can now test all NTN technologies on both network and device level, without the need for multiple instruments, thus accelerating development and ensuring quality of new NTN services to be deployed with confidence.
As NTN matures alongside 5G and looks towards 6G, overcoming significant technical hurdles is key to realising its potential. Unlike terrestrial networks, NTNs present unique communication challenges due to the dynamic nature of satellites. Rapid satellite movement causes frequent changes in signal characteristics, including Doppler frequency shifts, variable propagation delay and high path loss, requiring advanced channel emulation. Further complexity arises from the use of multiple orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO) and frequency bands, often necessitating Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) instead of the Time Division Duplex (TDD) common in terrestrial networks.
Added features tailored for NTN testing While the CMX500 is an established instrument in the 5G ecosystem, Rohde & Schwarz has recently expanded its functionalities significantly to address the specific complexities of satellite-based communication. The CMX500 supports two primary testing configurations: Full Satellite Access Network (SAN) emulation for device manufacturers, simulating the complete NTN architecture for comprehensive device testing, and gNB and 5G core network emulation for satellite network operators, validating satellite network components against standards-compliant cellular technologies.
The Constellation Insight Tool further enhances the CMX500 to support NTN testing scenarios. This software enables engineers to visualize satellite constellations in real-time, manage mobility and observe trajectories, effectively creating a digital twin of the live sky. It allows for automated deployment and handovers, it integrates precise ephemeris data to simulate realistic mobility and impairment compensation, and it supports complex handover scenarios.
