Keysight Technologies showcased a live end-to-end new radio non-terrestrial network (NR-NTN) connection in 3GPP band n252 at CES 2026, validating a key Release 19 band for emerging direct-to-cell satellite services. The demonstration used commercial-grade modem silicon from Samsung Electronics and delivered real-time connectivity under realistic low Earth orbit (LEO) conditions.
The live setup included satellite-to-satellite (SAT-to-SAT) mobility and cross-vendor interoperability, confirming that n252 can operate across a complete NTN system. The result marks the first public validation of n252, a band expected to see adoption by next-generation LEO constellations as the ecosystem prepares for commercial NTN services.
With this milestone, all major NR-NTN FR1 bands—n252, n255, and n256—now show end-to-end validation. Keysight’s NTN Network Emulator recreated multi-orbit LEO dynamics, SAT-to-SAT handovers, and end-to-end routing while running live user applications, enabling chipset and device vendors to assess mobility, interoperability, and standards conformance ahead of broader rollouts targeted for 2026.
- Demonstrated live NR-NTN connectivity in 3GPP Release 19 band n252
- Validated SAT-to-SAT mobility using commercial modem silicon
- Achieved cross-vendor interoperability in a full end-to-end NTN system
- Completed end-to-end validation across all major NR-NTN FR1 bands (n252, n255, n256)
- Provided a high-fidelity test environment to reduce risk and accelerate trials for direct-to-cell services
“Together with Samsung’s System LSI Business, we are demonstrating the live NTN connection in 3GPP band n252 using commercial-grade modem silicon with true SAT-to-SAT mobility. With n252, n255, and n256 now validated across NTN, the ecosystem is clearly accelerating toward bringing direct-to-cell satellite connectivity to mass-market devices,” said Peng Cao, Vice President and General Manager of Keysight’s Wireless Test Group.
🌐 Analysis
The validation of n252 completes coverage of the primary FR1 NR-NTN bands defined by 3GPP Release 19, giving modem vendors and satellite operators a clearer technical baseline for direct-to-cell services. The use of commercial-grade silicon and live mobility aligns with parallel efforts across the ecosystem, where chipset makers and satellite providers are converging on standards-based approaches to move from trials into scaled deployments.