3GPP NTN NB-IoT and eMTC technology is being included in the GCF certification criteria, allowing devices to certify compliance with version 17 of the 3GPP standard.

Lars Nielsen, CEO of GCF, has stated: "With this new certification program, the GCF supports the deployment of NTN/satellite communications worldwide. The satellite reaches areas where terrestrial coverage cannot reach, for technical or commercial reasons, thus expanding access worldwide.".

Isabelle Mauro, Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), has stated: "By facilitating the certification of a large number of device manufacturers and models, the GCF is paving the way, helping satellite operators lay the groundwork for the commercialization of NTN-compliant devices. Activating an industry-wide certification program is a major step toward this goal."

“We are delighted to be the first standards-based satellite operator to join the Global Certification Forum (GCF). We have paved the way for the realization of interoperable cellular access based on 3GPP standards. Sateliot is proud to be a standard-bearer actively involved in the conception, implementation, and leadership of standards, significantly contributing to accelerating their adoption. Our commitment extends to actively contributing to accelerating the commercialization of standard devices, demonstrating our dedication to advancing industry standards and fostering innovation,” added Marco Guadalupi, co-founder and CTO of Sateliot.

GCF certification begins with compatibility with 3GPP Release 17 NBN NB-IoT and eMTC. Furthermore, 5G NR and the evolution to NTN NB-IoT 3GPP Rel. 18 are also being developed within the forum. The GCF, as a strong advocate for 5G, is committed to offering a certification program for nearly all 5G technologies being standardized under 3GPP.

With the first commercial NTN devices now reaching the market, GCF Certification for NTN comes at the right time and will be activated with the publication of the next version of the GCF Certification Criteria in February 2024.

NBN (Non-Terrestrial Network) NB-IoT is an IoT-centric technology designed to support narrowband and messaging use cases and to complement existing terrestrial communications in many applications. You can find more detailed information in this GCF article (https://www.globalcertificationforum.org/news/blog/the-non-terrestrial-network-opportunity-how-gcf-certification-is-enabling-a-rapid-transformation.html) about NBN certification.

By combining laboratory conformance and interoperability testing with field trials across multiple commercial networks, GCF certification verifies the quality of interoperability of wireless devices with different network elements, provider infrastructures, and other services. The GCF certifies hundreds of different device models each year.