Telefónica España, a leading operator in private 5G mobile network services, has signed a collaboration agreement with Sateliot, a leading operator in 5G NTN IoT satellite telecommunications, to apply 5G NR (New Radio) technology in the space domain. This will expand coverage to remote, maritime, and unconnected areas while also supporting the deployment of critical services for security and defense applications.
This collaboration focuses on the development of solutions based on the 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks (NR-NTN) standard, enhancing current 5G NB-IoT (Narrow Band – Internet of Things) capabilities. Thanks to this partnership, a new hybrid architecture is being created that combines terrestrial mobile networks with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This approach will extend existing terrestrial networks and 5G tactical bubbles and introduce new capabilities in strategic sectors.
The agreement also includes the joint development of technological pilots and advanced 5G NR satellite connectivity functionalities aimed at critical communications, in order to validate interoperability between different types of networks and strengthen resilience and global coverage in complex scenarios.
Within this framework, Sateliot will contribute its satellite connectivity platform based on LEO satellites for its 5G NTN IoT telecommunications capabilities and services, while Telefónica will contribute to the adaptation of 5G NR for the defense and security sector, including integration capabilities with terrestrial 5G networks and the interoperability required for military applications.