An Overview of Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Use Cases
Introduction Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)
Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) can play an important role in a wide range of communication scenarios where traditional Terrestrial Networks (TNs) may not provide adequate coverage, continuity, scalability, or connectivity.Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)
As satellite-based access becomes increasingly integrated with 5G networks, NTN can complement terrestrial infrastructure and provide communication services across remote geographical areas, moving platforms, disaster zones, offshore locations, and other challenging environments.Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) identified several important use cases as part of its study on the use of satellite access in 5G.
These use cases demonstrate that NTN is not limited to providing basic satellite connectivity. Instead, NTN can support mobility, IoT, broadcasting, backhaul, enterprise connectivity, disaster recovery, transportation, and global communication services.Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)
The major use cases identified by 3GPP include:
Roaming/movement between terrestrial and satellite networks
Broadcast and multicast with a satellite overlay
Internet of Things (IoT) with a satellite network
Temporary use of a satellite component
Optimal routing or steering over a satellite
Satellite transborder service continuity
Global satellite overlay
Indirect connection through a 5G satellite access network
5G fixed backhaul between NR and the 5G Core
5G moving platform backhaul
5G to premises
Satellite connection of a remote service center to an offshore wind farm
Let us understand each use case in detail.
1. Roaming or Movement Between Terrestrial and Satellite Networks
A device may move outside the coverage area of a terrestrial network.
Consider a container ship carrying multiple IoT devices that are used to track the location of containers.
While the ship is on land or near the shore, the IoT devices may communicate through a terrestrial network.
However, as the ship moves farther away from the shore, terrestrial coverage may disappear.
As a result, the IoT devices can lose connectivity with the server responsible for tracking the devices and containers.
An NTN can provide connectivity in areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable, enabling continuous location tracking.
Roaming Between Different Operators
If the terrestrial network and NTN are owned by different operators, an appropriate roaming agreement is required between the operators.
This is similar to roaming arrangements between two terrestrial network operators.
If the same operator owns both the terrestrial network and the NTN, a roaming agreement is not required, and mobility management can be relatively simpler.
2. Broadcast and Multicast with a Satellite Overlay
NTN can be used to broadcast or multicast digital content to a large number of devices simultaneously.
Examples of content include:
Videos
Entertainment programs
Software-related content
Other digital information
A satellite overlay can provide broadcast or multicast services using either:
A standalone receive-only mode
A complement to a two-way communication mode
Some content may even be provided without additional charges to the receiving users, depending on the service model.
Why is this useful?
A terrestrial network may become congested when many users request the same content simultaneously.
Alternatively, a subscriber may temporarily move outside terrestrial coverage.
In such situations, NTN can provide broadcast or multicast services to UEs.
A UE can also potentially receive services simultaneously from both the terrestrial network and NTN.
This creates additional flexibility for content distribution.
3. Internet of Things (IoT) with a Satellite Network
Many IoT devices are deployed in remote areas where terrestrial radio coverage may not be available.
In such environments, NTN can provide connectivity to IoT devices.
One example is location tracking, such as tracking containers on ships.
Another example is a smart farm, where sensors are deployed across a large geographical area.
These sensors can communicate through an NTN when terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable.
GEO and LEO for IoT
Both GEO and LEO satellites can potentially be used to serve IoT devices.
LEO satellites can be particularly useful when the transmit power available at the IoT device is a challenge because of their relatively lower altitude.
GEO satellites, on the other hand, can cover a large geographical area without requiring significant mobility-management-related processing at the IoT device.
Thus, different satellite orbits can provide different advantages depending on the IoT application.
4. Temporary Use of a Satellite Component
Natural disasters and crises can severely affect terrestrial communication infrastructure.
Examples include:
Earthquakes
Floods
Wars
Other major emergencies
A terrestrial network in the affected geographical area may be partially or completely destroyed.
In such situations, NTN can be temporarily deployed or utilized to restore communication services.
This can help emergency responders and affected communities communicate when terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable.
NTN connectivity can support activities such as:
Emergency communication
Logistics
Security
Delivery of medicines
Delivery of food
Delivery of other essential supplies
Therefore, NTN can act as an important communication solution during disaster recovery and crisis situations.
5. Optimal Routing or Steering Over a Satellite
Factories located in remote regions may not have adequate terrestrial network coverage.
In such situations, an NTN can provide connectivity between:
Remote factories
Other facilities
Central command centers
Management centers
Different types of data can be transported through the satellite network, including:
Video
Control signaling
Operational information
Other business-critical data
Why LEO Satellites Can Be Useful
LEO satellites can be attractive for these applications because their relatively lower altitude can help reduce end-to-end propagation delay and support higher data rates.
This can be valuable for remote industrial environments where reliable connectivity is important for operational efficiency.
6. Satellite Transborder Service Continuity
This use case focuses on users who move between different countries.
A terrestrial network operator may serve a particular geographical region or country, while another operator may provide service in another country.
Consider a user traveling internationally for business or personal reasons.
As the user crosses a national border, terrestrial network coverage and operator availability may change.
NTN can help provide service continuity across countries, provided the necessary business agreements exist between the terrestrial network operators and the NTN operator.
This creates an opportunity for more continuous communication services during international travel.
7. Global Satellite Overlay
Multinational companies often have offices located in different countries and separated by hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.
Connecting these offices with consistent communication services can be challenging.
An NTN can provide a global satellite overlay capable of connecting geographically distributed offices.
Such connectivity can be designed with customized Quality of Service (QoS) according to application requirements.
Potential applications include:
High-Frequency Trading (HFT)
Banking
Corporate communications
Enterprise data services
Low-Latency Applications
For applications where latency is particularly important, LEO satellites can be attractive because their lower orbital altitude can provide lower propagation delay compared with higher-orbit satellite systems.
8. Indirect Connection Through a 5G Satellite Access Network
Not every UE may be capable of directly communicating with an NTN.
For example, some devices may be legacy UEs that were designed before the introduction of NTN capabilities in later 3GPP releases.
Such devices may not have the capability required to directly communicate through NTN.
This creates a connectivity challenge.
An NTN can potentially act as a relay in such scenarios.
The NTN can transport packets between:
Non-NTN-capable UE ↔ NTN ↔ Communication Network
This can allow even devices without direct NTN capabilities to access communication services indirectly.
Therefore, NTN can help extend the usefulness of existing devices without requiring every device to have native NTN capability.
9. 5G Fixed Backhaul Between NR and the 5G Core
Providing terrestrial network coverage in remote villages and other sparsely populated areas can be economically challenging.
One major problem is the absence of suitable transport infrastructure, such as:
Fiber networks
Other terrestrial backhaul infrastructure
Building this infrastructure can be expensive, especially when the population density is low.
A possible solution is to connect a terrestrial 5G base station to the 5G Core (5GC) using satellite-based backhaul.
The architecture can be represented as:
5G UE → NR Base Station → Satellite Backhaul → 5GC → Internet
The terrestrial base station still provides radio access to users, but the satellite provides the transport connection toward the core network.
This can provide users in remote areas with access to:
Internet services
Cloud services
Enterprise applications
Other desired communication services
10. 5G Moving Platform Backhaul
Trains are an important mode of transportation in many countries.
A train operator may want to provide passengers with services such as:
Video streaming
Entertainment programs
Internet access
Other digital services
However, a train may travel through areas where terrestrial cellular coverage is unavailable or inconsistent.
This can result in interruptions to the user experience.
A possible solution is to deploy 5G gNBs on the train.
These gNBs can provide 5G NR access to UEs located inside the train.
The gNB can then connect to the 5G Core Network through a satellite link.
The simplified architecture is:
Passenger UE → Train gNB → Satellite → 5GC → Internet
This allows the train to maintain connectivity even when terrestrial coverage along the railway route is limited.
11. 5G to Premises
Some homes and businesses are located in areas where deploying traditional terrestrial cellular infrastructure is economically difficult.
Examples include:
Remote vacation locations
Remote communities
Hard-to-reach geographical areas
Providing terrestrial network coverage in such locations may require significant physical infrastructure.
An NTN can provide communication services without requiring extensive terrestrial infrastructure to be physically deployed in the remote area.
This makes satellite-based connectivity particularly attractive for locations where conventional network deployment does not have a strong economic case.
12. Satellite Connection of a Remote Service Center to an Offshore Wind Farm
Offshore wind farms are typically located far from terrestrial infrastructure.
A wind farm needs communication connectivity with an inland service center for monitoring, management, maintenance, and other operational activities.
Because the wind farm is located offshore, terrestrial cellular infrastructure may not be available.
An NTN can provide the communication link between:
Offshore Wind Farm ↔ Satellite ↔ Inland Service Center
This allows the remote service center to communicate with and support the offshore wind farm.
Such connectivity can improve operational efficiency and help support the economic output of offshore renewable-energy infrastructure.
NTN Use Cases at a Glance
ID | NTN Use Case | Primary Benefit |
1 | TN–Satellite Roaming/Movement | Service continuity |
2 | Satellite Broadcast/Multicast | Efficient content distribution |
3 | Satellite IoT | Remote IoT connectivity |
4 | Temporary Satellite Use | Disaster and emergency connectivity |
5 | Optimal Routing over Satellite | Remote industrial connectivity |
6 | Transborder Service Continuity | Connectivity across countries |
7 | Global Satellite Overlay | Global enterprise connectivity |
8 | Indirect 5G Satellite Access | Connectivity for non-NTN UEs |
9 | 5G Fixed Backhaul | Remote-area 5G deployment |
10 | 5G Moving Platform Backhaul | Connectivity for trains and moving platforms |
11 | 5G to Premises | Remote homes and businesses |
12 | Offshore Wind Farm Connectivity | Remote industrial/energy connectivity |
What Do These Use Cases Tell Us About NTN?
The 12 use cases demonstrate that NTN is much more than simply providing Internet connectivity through satellites.
NTN can complement terrestrial networks in several different ways.
Coverage Extension
NTN can provide connectivity in areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable.
Mobility
NTN can support users and devices moving across terrestrial coverage boundaries.
Disaster Recovery
NTN can provide temporary connectivity when terrestrial infrastructure is damaged.
IoT Connectivity
NTN can connect IoT devices deployed in remote areas.
Backhaul
NTN can provide transport connectivity between terrestrial base stations and the core network.
Broadcast and Multicast
NTN can efficiently distribute the same content across a large geographical area.
Enterprise Connectivity
NTN can connect geographically distributed business locations and remote industrial facilities.
NTN as a Complement to Terrestrial Networks
An important concept across these use cases is that NTN does not necessarily replace terrestrial networks.
Instead, NTN and TN can work together.
A terrestrial network can provide high-capacity connectivity in areas where terrestrial infrastructure is economically viable.
NTN can complement it in:
Remote areas
Oceans
Offshore locations
Disaster zones
Moving platforms
Cross-border scenarios
Hard-to-reach locations
The combination creates a more flexible communication ecosystem.
The Future of NTN
As NTN technology continues to evolve, the range of practical applications is expected to expand.
The combination of:
5G NR + Satellite Networks + HAPS + IoT + Terrestrial Networks
can enable new connectivity models across land, air, and sea.
The use cases identified by 3GPP provide a foundation for understanding how satellite access can be integrated with 5G networks.
As the industry moves toward 5G-Advanced and 6G, NTN is expected to become increasingly important in providing ubiquitous, continuous, and scalable connectivity.
Conclusion
The NTN use cases identified by 3GPP demonstrate the broad potential of non-terrestrial connectivity.
From roaming between terrestrial and satellite networks to IoT connectivity, disaster recovery, global enterprise networks, remote factories, railway connectivity, remote premises, and offshore wind farms, NTN can address communication challenges that are difficult to solve using terrestrial infrastructure alone.
The 12 use cases can ultimately be connected to three fundamental objectives:
Service Ubiquity — providing connectivity where terrestrial networks cannot.
Service Continuity — maintaining connectivity as users and devices move.
Service Scalability — efficiently serving large geographical areas and large numbers of users.
NTN therefore represents an important step toward a more integrated and globally connected communication ecosystem, forming an important part of the evolution from 5G to 5G-Advanced and future 6G networks.
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