INNOVATIONS UNPLUGGED – the Rohde & Schwarz technology podcast · Rohde & Schwarz

[MWC2026 special] A video call from space? Not yet. – 5G on Earth via satellite? Already reality.

·23 min

Innovations Unplugged explores 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (5G NTN) with expert Tim Seiler. The episode opens with Inga's personal connectivity struggles in rural northern Germany and escalates to industry-wide problem: massive coverage dead zones (oceans, mountains, remote regions) create critical gaps for search & rescue, disaster response, and geopolitics. The innovation: 5G NTN integrates satellite communication directly into standard mobile phones, eliminating the bulky dedicated satellite phones of the past. Technical challenges—latency (36,000 km distances) and satellite mobility (constant handovers)—are overcome through protocol enhancements and intelligent network intelligence. Result: seamless connectivity for emergencies and remote operations.

As heard by us

A practical look at satellite-enabled 5G, from coverage gaps to latency and handover tradeoffs.

It frames 5G non-terrestrial networks as a practical system rather than a distant idea, with satellites, terrestrial infrastructure, and mobile devices filling coverage gaps when ordinary service falls away.

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Why you'd press play

If you want the constraints behind 5G NTN, start here.

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