3GPP Release 17 introduces "NR NTN," which incorporates non-terrestrial networks into the 5G New Radio (NR) standards. This advancement allows 5G devices to connect to satellites using the same protocols as terrestrial base stations, paving the way for global 5G coverage beyond traditional infrastructure.

“By adding 3GPP-compliant NR NTN test cases to the ME7873NR, we enable faster evaluation and certification of 5G NR NTN devices,” says Daizaburo Yokoo, general manager of Anritsu’s mobile solutions division. “This facilitates the development of devices that offer seamless mobile data, voice, and messaging connectivity anywhere on Earth.”.

In the future, the NR NTN test cases will be designated as work items for standardization by the GCF/PTCRB in the areas of radio frequency (RF), radio resource management (RRM), and protocol conformity testing (PCT). Anritsu collaborated with chipset vendors to conduct early verification and successfully obtained test data, enabling them to plan for data submission and certification immediately after the work item was established.

Product Overview
The ME7873NR is a 3GPP-compliant 5G RF conformance test platform certified by both the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB). It supports Frequency Range 1 (FR1, sub-6 GHz) out of the box, and when combined with an OTA camera (CATR)*1, it adds support for Frequency Range 2 (FR2, mmWave).

Notes
*1 OTA Chamber (CATR)
Compact Antenna Test Range. 3GPP compliant CATR anechoic chamber designed to block external radio waves and prevent internal reflections, in order to accurately measure the performance of wireless devices by transmitting and receiving over the air.