During World Space Business Week 2026, MSSA and GSMA hosted an Executive Breakfast Roundtable titled Enabling the Next Era of Connectivity. Senior leaders from across the connectivity and satellite ecosystem discussed how Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) are evolving and being commercialized. The conversation covered emerging business models, interoperability, device and network integration, and ways the industry can collaborate more closely.
A key theme throughout the discussion was certification. As satellite and terrestrial networks converge, global device certification has to be a focal point. NTN services will only scale if devices work reliably across networks, constellations, and borders. That kind of confidence comes from shared, standards-based testing and certification.
The themes discussed in Paris are already being translated into action through a new Memorandum of Understanding between MSSA and the Global Certification Forum (GCF) to advance certification and interoperability for 3GPP NTN technologies. Building on GCF’s existing framework, the two organizations will collaborate on certification requirements and testing for 3GPP NTN technologies, including NTN 5G NR, NTN NB-IoT, and D2D services. The partnership also seeks to support roaming between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks and between satellite constellations – and encourage field validation on MSSA operators’ networks. GCF has already certified NTN NB-IoT in GEO systems since 2024 and is now expanding certification efforts to LEO constellations and NTN 5G NR.
Together, GCF brings global certification expertise, while MSSA connects the satellite and mobile ecosystem. It provides a practical framework for addressing the priorities raised at the WSBW 2026 roundtable into a concrete path forward. As NTN technologies continue to evolve, a common approach to testing and certification can help improve device and network interoperability and support broader market adoption across the ecosystem.