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)
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Frontier labs/
Space and NTNDirect-to-device and new payloads, tested.
Space and NTN, inside Frontier labs: 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 usArchitectureThe protocol- Technologies
- 9
- At the frontier
- 3
- Protocol functions
- 3 of 8
- Industries served
- 3
Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part
01What 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. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against.
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)
02Architecture
Where it sits, and what it speaks.
Space and NTN draws on 4 domains and 32 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol’s 8 core functions.
Edge inference, model serving and optimisation
10
Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial
9
Time-series and sensor AI
8
Multimodal fusion and agentic operations
7
Federated and privacy-preserving learning
7
Physical AI and robotics (within red lines)
7
MLOps
7
Evaluation, model risk and AI governance
10
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
01JoinIdentity, attestation quote, signed policy.
02AdmitAdmitted for a stated scope, nothing wider.
03DescribeWhat, where, how and by whom, with calibration.
04TimeOne clock across the grid, with its error bound.
05ObserveEvery value with quality and provenance.
06QualifyTested against the specification, state on record.
07FederateSigned exchange across grids and trust domains.
08OrchestrateSoftware and configuration by signed plan.
03On 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.
04In the field
Where this runs, sector by sector.
6 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on space and ntn.
Defence-adjacent (civil dual-use)Research and development route through the defence science programme
A science-and-technology programme on all-domain situational awareness.Government and public safetyNational GBON surface and upper-air network
WMO-grade stations reporting through WIS 2.0, funded through the systematic-observations financing pathway.Government and public safetyWildfire camera network and fire-weather stations
Camera towers with edge inference and co-located fire-weather stations, utility- or agency-funded.Government and public safetyUrban street-flood sensor network
Open-hardware depth sensors with open data and alerts to emergency management.Government and public safetyAlerting integration with the Common Alerting Protocol and cell broadcast
Software-heavy: sensor triggers feed an alert origination tool; the alert authority keeps every decision.Government and public safetyDeployable communications and sensing for incident command
A cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes at the incident base.05Open 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
- Benchmark methods
- Pilot reports, published either way
Enterprise, on this site
- Research pilots
- Prototype engineering
06The rest of the line
Frontier labs, area by area.
Frontier labsPilots
New technology, a real site, a written plan.Frontier labsBenchmarks
Open data, one method, comparable results.Frontier labsAI-RAN and 6G
Sensing and communication on shared compute.Frontier labsPhysical AI
Drones and robots, inside published red lines.Frontier labsInto the product
From a result to a qualified release.Bring us the site.
Survey, design, deployment and operation for space and ntn. The form names who receives your details.
Talk to uscontact@observatory.global