Rohde & Schwarz has enhanced its CMX500 radio communication tester with full support for all non-terrestrial network (NTN) technologies, establishing it as a uniquely comprehensive solution for the entire NTN ecosystem. The upgraded one-box tester will make its debut at MWC Barcelona 2026.
The R&S CMX500 has evolved into a powerful, all-in-one platform that now covers NR-NTN, NB-NTN, and Direct-to-Cell (D2C/DTC) technologies within a single unit.
With this upgrade, engineers can perform both device-level and network-level NTN testing without relying on multiple instruments speeding up development cycles and ensuring the quality and reliability of upcoming NTN services.
Tackling the challenges of NTN testing
As NTN grows alongside 5G and paves the way toward 6G, it introduces new technical challenges that differ sharply from terrestrial networks.
The dynamic motion of satellites leads to rapidly changing signal conditions such as Doppler shifts, variable propagation delays, and high path loss demanding advanced channel emulation.
The diversity of satellite orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO) and the use of various frequency bands add further complexity, often requiring Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) instead of the Time Division Duplex (TDD) used in terrestrial setups.
New features designed for satellite connectivity
Building on its solid foundation in the 5G ecosystem, Rohde & Schwarz has expanded the CMX500’s functionality to meet the demands of satellite-based communication.
The CMX500 radio communication tester now supports two key configurations:
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Full Satellite Access Network (SAN) emulation for device makers, enabling end-to-end NTN device testing.
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gNB and 5G core network emulation for satellite operators, allowing validation of network elements against 3GPP standards.
Adding to this, the new Constellation Insight Tool gives engineers a real-time view of satellite constellations visualizing mobility, trajectories, and handovers while integrating accurate ephemeris data.
The result is a digital twin of the sky, perfect for realistic mobility simulations and automated testing of complex handover scenarios.
For test automation, Rohde & Schwarz offers an XLAPI Python Test Case package featuring Starlink LTE-DTC scenarios, including LTE attach performance, handovers (Event A3), cell reselection, and recovery after radio link failures.
The AI-based ScriptAssist tool further streamlines test scripting, accelerating protocol, application, and automation tasks for NTN R&D.
Setting the standard for NTN conformance testing
The CMX500 radio communication tester continues to lead in 5G conformance testing, and Rohde & Schwarz now extends this leadership into NTN conformance and carrier acceptance testing.
The company offers the industry’s largest set of validated test cases for NR-NTN under 3GPP Release 17 covering protocol conformance (PCT), RF, and radio resource management (RRM).
Notably, the CMX500 is the only solution on the market that distinguishes between propagation emulation and fading.
It can independently model space-to-ground effects (like Doppler, delay, and scattering) and terrestrial impairments (such as reflections or receiver-induced Doppler). This separation allows for precise and flexible testing that mirrors real-world NTN performance.
Leadership Comments
Goce Talaganov, Vice President of Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, said, “As NTN becomes a cornerstone of the 5G ecosystem, it introduces a new degree of complexity in validation and testing. Our ongoing development of the CMX500 ensures customers have the tools they need to meet these challenges head-on. We’re proud to present this fully integrated, all-NTN-ready CMX500 at MWC 2026 and look forward to discussing how it can support our customers’ NTN ambitions.”
Visitors can explore the CMX500’s enhanced NTN testing capabilities at the Rohde & Schwarz booth (5A80, Hall 5) at MWC Barcelona from March 2–5, 2026.
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