Luxembourg, 26 May 2025 - OQ Technology, a pioneer in 5G NTN satellite connectivity, has been awarded a groundbreaking project under the European Space Agency's (ESA) ARTES 4.0 Strategic Programme Line "Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity". This project, supported by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), reinforces OQ Technology's position at the forefront of satellite-based 5G innovation in Europe. The competitive tender was aimed at European space companies and involved proposals from wide range of small and medium European space companies with OQ Technology winning the tender.

CREST-5G: CompRehensive Evaluation and Simulation of TDD Mode for 5G NTN in C-Band

The CREST-5G project aims to provide a comprehensive system-level assessment of C-band Time Division Duplexing (TDD) for use in future 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) satellite direct-to-device services. This innovative approach seeks to enhance spectrum utilization, reduce space segment complexity, and support unified NTN-TN scenarios. Key aspects of the project include:

• PHY and MAC layer enhancements
• Contributions to 3GPP standards
• Evaluation strategies for NTN and TN communication interference and their seamless integration

Mr. Angelo Altamura, ESA Technical Officer assigned to the project, stated, "We view the adoption of TDD in the C-band spectrum as an important step toward enabling future 5G NTN direct-to-device systems, enhancing spectrum efficiency, and supporting the seamless integration of TN and NTN."

The CREST-5G project will encompass:

1. Studying the state-of-the-art of 5G-TDD and NTN technologies
2. Developing a system concept for 5G-NTN-TDD mode
3. Performing a system-level assessment for feasibility and performance analysis
4. Implementing and improving the 5G NTN stack for efficient 5G-NTN-TDD
5. Developing a software simulator to test the system scenario
6. Validating the 5G-NTN-TDD concept in a lab environment

Omar Qaise, CEO of OQ Technology, commented, "CREST-5G represents a significant leap forward in our mission to revolutionize global IoT connectivity through 5G satellite technology. By exploring TDD in C-band, we're paving the way for more efficient, flexible, and powerful satellite-based 5G networks."

The project involves collaboration with the University of Luxembourg's Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust as a subcontractor, leveraging their expertise in telecommunications and network security.

This initiative aligns with recent regulatory developments, such as the FCC's "Supplemental Coverage from Space" (SCS) framework, which allows satellite operators to serve as gap-fillers for terrestrial networks. CREST-5G responds to this policy by performing a system-level assessment of C-band TDD networks for use in future 5G NTN satellite direct-to-device services. The outcomes of CREST-5G are expected to significantly contribute to the advancement of 5G NTN technology, potentially revolutionizing global connectivity and paving the way for seamless integration between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.