GSOA and GSMA join forces in favour of TN and NTN integration

Communication systems can today be considered an essential asset in the lives of people and companies. With this in mind, the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) and the GSMA, which represents the mobile communications ecosystem, have announced a co-operation initiative to promote innovation and integration between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (TN and NTN). This second class of telecommunications networks operates above the earth’s surface, with satellites in low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO), as well as high-altitude platforms (HAPS) and drones.

The aim of the partnership is to boost the development of communication systems worldwide through innovation, standards and activities that add value to members and the industry as a whole through the combined expertise of the two organisations and synergies between mobile and satellite technologies.

The joint activities will focus on the strengths of the two classes of networks, such as 5G integration, connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors and global coverage solutions. They will also include educational programmes, workshops and events to increase understanding of the benefits and opportunities presented by the convergence of the two technologies.

“We are delighted to be able to collaborate with the GSMA and its members and thus advance the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. This is key to creating a ubiquitous communications infrastructure that will help accelerate digital inclusion and digital transformation, also covering areas that are currently unserved or underserved,” says Isabelle Mauro, Director General of the GSOA. She emphasises that with the evolution of 5G and 6G, this convergence is fundamental to building a reliable, secure, robust and globally connected world.

For Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, this collaboration agreement is a significant milestone in the evolution of telecommunications, signalling a shift towards a more interconnected and resilient global network infrastructure. “By working together, we can help the telecoms industry deliver innovative solutions to connect more people and more devices for the benefit of industry and society,” he added.

In addition, GSOA and the European Space Agency (ESA) announced the signing of a memorandum of intent to co-operate in 5G and 6G with space systems, innovation and integration of terrestrial and satellite networks and technologies.

Implementing 5G and IoT

Recent figures from GSMA Intelligence (GSMAi) show that 5G connectivity is expected to account for more than half (51 per cent) of mobile connections by 2029, reaching 56 per cent by the end of the decade. 5G is responsible for implementing the fastest mobile generation to date, surpassing one billion connections by the end of 2022, 1.6 billion connections by the end of 2023 and expected to reach 5.5 billion by 2030.

As of January 2024, there were 261 operators in 101 countries offering commercial 5G services; more than 90 operators in 64 markets had already committed to implementing the technology. Of the 261 commercial 5G services available, 47 are provided by 5G Standalone (SA) networks, with a further 89 deployments planned in the short term.

According to GSMAi, the growth of 5G SA networks will help realise the vision of the Internet of Things for businesses. The business segment now has 10.7 billion IoT connections (compared to 10.5 billion in the consumer sector). This movement is expected to continue, with connections in companies more than doubling to 38.5 billion by 2030. Smart buildings and smart manufacturing will account for 34 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

In addition to 5G SA, the availability of 5G-Advanced with 3GPP Release 18 will bring further benefits for IoT systems, serving as a catalyst for new investments in 5G throughout 2024 and 2025. GSMAi data shows that more than half of operators expect to start deploying 5G-Advanced within a year of the availability of commercial solutions, driven by priority use cases such as 5G multicast services and low-cost IoT.