With planned future enhancements including satellite-optimised gNodeB technology and 5G NR (New Radio) to address 3GPP access complexities and hybrid User Equipment (UE) modems to seamlessly switch between non-3GPP and 3GPP systems, this hybrid strategy is designed to help operators unlock new interoperability capabilities.

It will also pave the way toward a fully standardised 5G-6G future, uniting satellites and terrestrial networks for unprecedented global scalability and coverage.

Operator and end-user benefits

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks with 5G NTN is projected to generate $57 billion in capacity and equipment revenue between 2023 and 2033. 5G NTN service revenue is expected to reach $30.2 billion by 2032, serving over 2.1 million 5G UEs, excluding direct-to-device (D2D). 

This technology offers network operators a powerful set of advantages that extend far beyond simple coverage gains. By leveraging terrestrial and satellite infrastructure, operators can design hybrid networks that adapt dynamically to geography and demand, ensuring resilience and efficiency even in the most challenging environments.

Hybrid systems allow for gradual adoption of innovation, where new capabilities can be incorporated incrementally rather than through disruptive overhauls. Inter-provider roaming across different provider networks enables seamless global connectivity, strengthening service consistency and fostering new opportunities for unified operations.

Satellites also play a crucial role in reinforcing network resilience, helping to alleviate congestion and maintain continuity during outages, natural disasters, or other emergencies. For end users, these advances translate into secure, high-quality connectivity that is available everywhere, from dense urban centres to the most remote or underserved regions.

The unified 5G architecture supports both bandwidth-intensive applications, such as video streaming and cloud collaboration, and the low-latency requirements of enterprise-grade tools. Users can move effortlessly between terrestrial and satellite coverage, with uninterrupted handovers that keep them connected across regions and modes of transport.

Beyond everyday use, integration opens the door to specialised applications, from large-scale IoT deployments and mission-critical operations in remote areas to mobility services across aviation, maritime, and land transport.

The 5G vision for the future

5G standards play a crucial role in ensuring global network interoperability and maintaining competitive advantage. The ultimate goal of 5G is to create a unified, interoperable network that enables seamless roaming between terrestrial and non-terrestrial systems. Satellites are now a critical part of this vision, rather than an afterthought.

By complementing mobile and fiber networks, satellites can expand global reach, provide reliable backhaul and multicast support, and enable mobility services in areas where terrestrial systems fall short. Proof-of-concept demonstrations of satellite interoperability with the 5G Core confirm that this convergence is no longer theoretical; it is happening now.

Looking ahead, the future of non-terrestrial networks is already taking shape with planned advancements such as satellite-optimised gNodeB technology for more efficient integration, satellite 5G NR to address access complexities, and a hybrid UE capable of seamlessly switching between terrestrial 3GPP and non-3GPP satellite systems.

This hybrid approach will deliver a fully integrated satellite-terrestrial ecosystem and pave the way toward a standardised 5G-6G future. Satellites are no longer peripheral; they are becoming central enablers of worldwide connectivity.

With each milestone - from the introduction of 5G NTN in 3GPP Release 17 and enhancements in Release 18 - the industry moves closer to truly universal, resilient, and interoperable networks.

These advancements, supported by innovations like cloud-native, multi-orbit ground systems and hybrid 5G user equipment capable of roaming seamlessly between terrestrial and satellite systems, are laying the foundation for a unified, intelligent communications fabric that will underpin global connectivity for decades to come.