Launched at MWC in Barcelona, the PentaG-NTN is a 5G-NTN (non-terrestrial network) modem IP subsystem for satellite user terminals supporting LEO and MEO constellations.

It enables satellite operators, constellation and terminal developers to accelerate 5G-NTN services using the third-generation PentaG, production-ready 5G-Advanced baseband architecture. The modem integrates baseband hardware, L1 PHY software and verification assets into a single, reusable subsystem. It can serve as a common foundation for multiple derivatives, including PentaG-Edge for terrestrial 5G-Advanced edge and IoT applications, said Ceva.

Unlike terrestrial 5G, satellite user terminals must operate under harsh and rapidly changing conditions, including Doppler shift, timing offsets, and long propagation delays. PentaG-NTN incorporates NTN-specific features, including LEO dynamics optimisation (with Doppler compensation and frequency-offset mitigation), latency-optimised L1 processing tuned for LEO and MEO channel characteristics, 3GPP Release-18 compliance for 5G-NTN, with a clear upgrade path to Release-19, support for Ka and Ku bands and for narrowband proprietary waveforms, it is also scalable from 10Mbps up to 2Gbps, with up to 256-QAM modulation.

The modem subsystem combines hardware acceleration with programmable DSPs and software interfaces, allowing customers to integrate proprietary technologies, such as custom communication algorithms, waveform enhancements, or application-specific optimisations.

The PentaG-NTN integrated modem subsystem includes optimised baseband hardware accelerators and control logic, L1 PHY software and a verification environment which includes Virtual Platform Simulator (VPS), system-level simulation, test benches, and FPGA-based emulation

The production-ready 5G-Advanced baseband architecture supports both FR1 (sub-7GHz) and FR2 (24–52GHz) operation, including mmWave, and scales up to 400MHz per component carrier.

Building on the same platform, another integrated modem subsystem from Ceva is PentaG-Edge, which extends the architecture to terrestrial 5G-Advanced edge and IoT applications. According to the company, it enables licensees to avoid the cost and complexity of building a modem from the ground up while retaining the flexibility to tailor features, performance, and differentiation for specific market requirements – such as advanced MIMO configurations and other terrestrial-focused optimisations not required in NTN deployments.

Both PentaG-NTN and PentaG-Edge are available now for licensing.

CMX500 radio communication tester covers all NTN technologies