MSSA Unveils Recommendations for Advancing Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Integration and Interoperability

The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) is proud to announce the release of its Reference Architecture document, offering strategic recommendations to accelerate the development, deployment, and global integration of open and interoperable Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solutions.

As satellite communications advance, NTN systems are increasingly vital to extending connectivity to remote and underserved regions, while complementing terrestrial networks. MSSA’s Reference Architecture emphasizes the importance of system-level design to ensure consistent device performance and seamless user experiences.

Developed by the MSSA Technical Committee’s Reference Architecture Work Group, the document addresses key challenges and outlines best practices across the entire service delivery chain, from satellite constellations and ground infrastructure to mobile devices, to meet growing demands for high-speed, reliable, and secure connectivity.

Key Focus Areas Include:

• Technological Advancements: Recommendations for the development of satellite constellations, ground infrastructure, and mobile devices to enhance NTN performance and coverage.
• Interoperability: Guidelines to ensure NTN systems integrate smoothly with terrestrial networks across devices and applications, enabling mass market adoption and service consistency across networks.
• Prioritized Use Cases: Essential use cases such as resource management, network selection, roaming, and network sharing, all designed to support global interoperability and regulatory compliance.
• Service Models: Insights into delivering messaging, voice, data, and IoT services via NTN 3GPP compliant technologies, ensuring robust and resilient service delivery across diverse environments.

“This Reference Architecture is a major step forward in shaping a cohesive and interoperable NTN ecosystem,” said Jeff Snyder, MSSA Reference Architecture Work Group Lead and Chief Technology Officer at MSSA member Omnispace. “By aligning with 3GPP specifications and addressing real-world use cases, our recommendations aim to guide industry stakeholders toward scalable, secure, and high-performance NTN solutions.”

The document also supports ongoing standardization efforts led by global bodies such as 3GPP and GSMA, reinforcing MSSA’s commitment to fostering innovation and industry-wide collaboration.

Future versions of the Reference Architecture will explore emerging topics and provide deeper insights into areas introduced in this first release. MSSA invites interested stakeholders to become members and participate in its technical committees, collaborating to solve key challenges and shape the future of NTN technologies.

To download the full document that provides recommendations for the NTN industry based on 3GPP Release 17, click here.

About the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA):

The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) is a non-profit industry association, founded in 2024, that seeks to promote and advance the emerging ecosystem for direct-to-device (D2D) and other advanced Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) services. MSSA supports the efforts of advanced NTN solutions providers, including terrestrial mobile and satellite operators, original equipment manufacturers, infrastructure providers, chip vendors, and others. MSSA is focused on facilitating a global ecosystem utilizing spectrum already allocated and licensed for mobile satellite services (MSS) and well-suited for integration into a broad range of mobile devices. More specifically, MSSA seeks to facilitate global mobile connectivity via satellite through open, standards-based solutions.

By promoting open, interoperable architectures and standards, and enhancing regulatory frameworks, MSSA is driving initiatives to foster the introduction of new advanced NTN services for the benefit of consumers. For more information, visit our About page, sign up for our Interest List, and follow us on LinkedIn.

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By aligning with 3GPP specifications and addressing real-world use cases, our recommendations aim to guide industry stakeholders toward scalable, secure, and high-performance NTN solutions.