--- title: "Satellite and NTN: Connectivity | Nexus Observatory" description: "Satellite and NTN, inside Connectivity: transparent (bent-pipe) payloads, regenerative payloads and on-board processing…" url: https://observatory.global/connectivity/satellite-and-ntn/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-10-28 --- Satellite and NTN: a constellation passing over a terminal, the link handing from one satellite to the next. [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) / **Satellite and NTN** # LEO, GEO and 3GPP direct-to-device. Satellite and NTN, inside Connectivity: transparent (bent-pipe) payloads, regenerative payloads and on-board processing, multibeam and digitally beamformed payloads, 5G NR over satellite (NR-NTN) and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from 3GPP TS 38.300 (NTN, Rel-17) to 3GPP TR 38.821 (NR NTN solutions), and runs on the open Observatory Protocol. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Architecture [The protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) **Technologies**: 9 **At the frontier**: 3 **Protocol functions**: 3 of 8 **Industries served**: 21 **01** What it is ## Communications payloads, NTN and direct-to-device. The space segment end to end: orbits and constellations, spacecraft buses, communications and Earth observation payloads, inter-satellite links, tracking and command, space safety, launch, and the licensing and filings that let a system operate over a site. The radios, networks, gateways, device management and field protocols that connect low-power sensors and controllers to the grid, sized to a measured power budget. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against. Satellite and space systems ### Transparent (bent-pipe) payloads Payloads that frequency-translate and amplify signals, keeping the gNB or hub on the ground. We design and integrate. 3GPP TS 38.300 (NTN, Rel-17) · 3GPP TR 38.821 (NR NTN solutions) **Frontier** · Satellite and space systems ### Regenerative payloads and on-board processing Payloads that demodulate, route or run base-station functions in orbit, cutting gateway dependence and latency. We design and integrate. 3GPP Rel-19 NR NTN enhancements (regenerative payload) · 3GPP TS 38.300 Satellite and space systems ### Multibeam and digitally beamformed payloads Hundreds of steerable spot beams with flexible power and bandwidth that follow demand across a coverage area. We design and integrate. ETSI EN 302 307-2 (DVB-S2X) · Rec. ITU-R S.1503 Satellite and space systems ### 5G NR over satellite (NR-NTN) 3GPP NR adapted for satellite delay and Doppler so standard 5G devices and cores work over orbiting access. We design, integrate, deploy and operate. 3GPP TS 38.300 (NTN, Rel-17) · 3GPP TS 38.101-5 (UE RF, satellite access) · 3GPP TS 38.108 (satellite access node radio) Satellite and space systems ### IoT over satellite (NB-IoT and LTE-M NTN) Low-power cellular IoT over satellite for sensors in places with no terrestrial coverage. We design, integrate, deploy and operate. 3GPP TR 36.763 (IoT NTN study) · 3GPP TS 36.300 (Rel-17) **Frontier** · Satellite and space systems ### Direct-to-device in mobile bands Satellites serving unmodified phones in terrestrial mobile spectrum to extend coverage at the edge of networks. We design, integrate and support. FCC Supplemental Coverage from Space framework (2024) · ITU WRC-27 agenda item 1.13 (Resolution 253 (WRC-23)) Satellite and space systems ### Mobile satellite services in L and S band Narrowband voice, messaging and telemetry links that keep working in severe weather and for safety services. We integrate, deploy and operate. ITU RR Art. 5 (MSS allocations) · 3GPP TS 38.101-5 (NTN bands n255, n256) **Frontier** · Satellite and space systems ### Store-and-forward satellite IoT Satellites that collect data when out of gateway view and deliver later, suited to sparse sensor networks. We design and integrate. 3GPP Rel-19 IoT NTN store-and-forward Satellite and space systems ### Satellite broadcast and multicast One-to-many delivery of content, software updates and alerts across wide areas. We design, integrate and operate. ETSI EN 302 307-1 (DVB-S2) · 3GPP TS 23.247 (5G multicast-broadcast) **02** Architecture ## Where it sits, and what it speaks. Satellite and NTN draws on 7 domains and 55 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol's 8 core functions. Macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters 9 Massive MIMO and beamforming 7 NR bands, duplexing and synchronisation 9 NR features: RedCap, positioning, sidelink and verticals 9 Private networks and RAN sharing 7 Wi-Fi coexistence and convergence 8 6G and integrated sensing and communication 7 RAN planning, optimisation and assurance 6 O-RAN architecture and open interfaces 7 Fronthaul (7.2x split) and transport 8 RAN intelligent controllers, xApps and rApps 8 SMO, O-Cloud and accelerated L1 8 AI-RAN: shared accelerated infrastructure 7 AI/ML in the air interface and network management 8 Energy saving and efficiency 6 Testing, integration and security 8 01**Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy. 02**Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider. 03**Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration. 04**Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound. 05**Observe** Every value with quality and provenance. 06**Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record. 07**Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains. 08**Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan. **03** On the grid ## Every site joins one observing grid. The open networks on the grid today, over real relief and the geodesic cells we count them into, filtered to the space domain this area serves. A site built here enrols into the same grid. **04** In the field ## Where this runs, sector by sector. 6 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on satellite and ntn. [Government and public safety Alerting integration with the Common Alerting Protocol and cell broadcastSoftware-heavy: sensor triggers feed an alert origination tool; the alert authority keeps every decision.](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) [Government and public safety Deployable communications and sensing for incident commandA cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes at the incident base.](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) [Communities and rural Indigenous-owned community cellularUnused 800 MHz and 1900 MHz spectrum through an access-licensing framework with a priority window for Indigenous applicants.](https://observatory.global/sectors/communities/) [Communities and rural Last-mile fixed wireless with community anchor sensingSub-grantee partnerships where observatory nodes co-host at schools, clinics and fire halls.](https://observatory.global/sectors/communities/) [Communities and rural Rural and cross-border 5G corridors and smart communitiesCo-funded cross-border sections under European digital infrastructure calls.](https://observatory.global/sectors/communities/) [Communities and rural Remote microgrid, sensing and connectivity bundleSolar-plus-storage telemetry with a weather station and a small cell in a diesel-reduction project.](https://observatory.global/sectors/communities/) ### Network scenes, computed in the place. Each one places the technology in a drawn site. Pick a band, switch a layer or fail a node and the coverage, the link budget and the numbers are recomputed. [NTN · Satellite · Mountain Satellite direct to device in a mountain valleyWhere the valley cell cannot reach, phones on the pass road connect straight to a low-orbit satellite, which relays through its feeder link to a gateway. Slant range, delay, Doppler and SNR are computed for the pass geometry.](https://observatory.global/environments/networks/ntn-d2d/) **05** Open and enterprise ## Open by default. Enterprise by contract. The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract. Open, on the main site - Band tables and sources - Country guides - Coverage methods Enterprise, on this site - Private Wireless as a Service - AI-RAN deployment - Spectrum route support **06** The rest of the line ## Connectivity, area by area. [Connectivity Private 5GStandalone NPN: your core, your SIMs, your site.](https://observatory.global/connectivity/private-5g/) [Connectivity AI-RANRAN and inference on the same accelerators.](https://observatory.global/connectivity/ai-ran/) [Connectivity O-RANOpen fronthaul and RIC, many suppliers.](https://observatory.global/connectivity/o-ran/) [Connectivity LPWAN and meshBattery sensors over kilometres.](https://observatory.global/connectivity/lpwan-and-mesh/) [Connectivity TimingPTP to G.8275.1, GNSS with holdover.](https://observatory.global/connectivity/timing/) [Connectivity SpectrumBands, licences and routes, by country.](https://observatory.global/connectivity/spectrum/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for satellite and ntn. The form names who receives your details. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) [contact@observatory.global](mailto:contact@observatory.global?subject=Connectivity%3A%20Satellite%20and%20NTN) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Connectivity** . Private 5G, AI-RAN and orbit, on site.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Connectivity - [Private 5G](https://observatory.global/connectivity/private-5g/) - [AI-RAN](https://observatory.global/connectivity/ai-ran/) - [O-RAN](https://observatory.global/connectivity/o-ran/) - [Satellite and NTN](https://observatory.global/connectivity/satellite-and-ntn/) - [LPWAN and mesh](https://observatory.global/connectivity/lpwan-and-mesh/) - [Timing](https://observatory.global/connectivity/timing/) - [Spectrum](https://observatory.global/connectivity/spectrum/) Technologies - [Macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters](https://observatory.global/technologies/ran/macro-small-cells-das-and-repeaters/) - [Massive MIMO and beamforming](https://observatory.global/technologies/ran/massive-mimo-and-beamforming/) - [O-RAN architecture and open interfaces](https://observatory.global/technologies/airan/o-ran-architecture-and-open-interfaces/) - [Fronthaul (7.2x split) and transport](https://observatory.global/technologies/airan/fronthaul-7-2x-split-and-transport/) - [5G core functions](https://observatory.global/technologies/core/5g-core-functions/) - [Network slicing, edge UPF and local breakout](https://observatory.global/technologies/core/network-slicing-edge-upf-and-local-breakout/) - [Orbits and constellations](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/orbits-and-constellations/) Industries - [Public safety](https://observatory.global/industries/public-safety/) - [Government](https://observatory.global/industries/government/) - [Cities](https://observatory.global/industries/cities/) - [Civil resilience](https://observatory.global/industries/resilience/) - [Communities](https://observatory.global/industries/communities/) - [Humanitarian](https://observatory.global/industries/humanitarian/) - [Climate](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) Service platforms - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) - [Earth observation & GeoAI](https://observatory.global/earth-observation/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. 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