The latency of satellite communications is primarily determined by orbital altitude, as the distance a signal must travel directly impacts the time it takes to complete a round trip between the ground and space.
The differences in latency between the three main orbital regimes are as follows:
Explore module →The primary difference between 5G and 6G integration of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) lies in the shift from an “add-on” connectivity model to a natively unified architecture. While 5G NTN focuses on extending existing terrestrial signals to underserved areas, 6G is being designed from the ground up to harmonise space, air, and ground assets into a single, seamless fabric.
Explore module →3GPP Release 17, published in 2022, represents a major milestone in telecommunications as the first release to formally integrate non-terrestrial network (NTN) platforms—including LEO, MEO, and GEO satellites, as well as High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS)—into the global 5G standard,. It specifically introduces support for two distinct types of non-terrestrial networks: 5G New Radio (NR) and Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT).
Explore module →The expansion of the 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) market is hindered by a combination of prohibitive economic costs, complex regulatory landscapes, and significant technical engineering hurdles. While the market is projected to reach USD 141.72 billion by 2034, several critical barriers remain.
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