The Challenges
Non-Terrestrial Networks inherit all the challenges and complexities of terrestrial networks, plus a few extras. These challenges include the vastly increased distance between network nodes, variable weather conditions, adjacent satellite interference, issues with free space optics and handovers prompted by satellite movement. These dynamic network conditions can affect link integrity and performance quality.
Because of the amount of time it takes a signal to travel between a ground station and a satellite, latency values are higher in NTNs than in a terrestrial network, such as a cable or fibre internet link. These greater distances can account for up to a 20x increase in latency. In addition, due to congestion and atmospheric conditions, NTN latency can also vary widely.
Testing Considerations
Despite these challenges, customer expectations for connection reliability and application performance remain high.
With satellite technology now actively being deployed in a wide range of applications, smarter test methodologies are imperative.
Specifically, if you are not considering the effects of delay, limited bandwidth, and other network impairments early in your development and testing, you are likely to encounter irregular performance and failures when you deploy. In mission-critical situations, such as defence communications, automotive collision avoidance, and first responder communications, to name a few, the difference between a robust, high performing network could be the difference between life and death for personnel in harm’s way. An asset that provides inferior, incomplete, or intermittent sensor data will directly hinder decision makers on the ground from making optimal, timely, life-saving decisions.
The traditional approach of developing and testing in a pristine lab and later considering real-world network conditions after deploying is short-sighted, risky, time consuming, and costly. Thankfully these problems are avoidable.
The Solution
Aukua Systems have introduced their latest hardware-based solution for testing and monitoring Ethernet and IP networks, including non-terrestrial networks.
The MGA8410 multi-channel system can be configured as a Traffic Generator, Network Emulator and Network Analyser that enables engineers to easily recreate real-world, imperfect network conditions such as latency, asymmetric bandwidth limits, network congestion, or other negative scenarios.
Testing with the Aukua MGA8410 helps mitigate project risk and cost while simultaneously enabling you to conduct rapid prototyping and develop more robust, superior performing satellite networks.
For Further Information
Tel: 01628 559980
Collateral
Aukua NTN Introduction Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhqSHzfc4B0
GCH Test & Computer Services Ltd.
GCH House
5 Whittle Parkway
Slough
SL1 6DQ
+44 (0)7436 140185