Kratos and Intelsat Successfully Demonstrate 5G NTN Over GEO

Rhea-AI Summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ: KTOS) and Intelsat have successfully demonstrated an end-to-end 5G-NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) network integration. The demonstration combined Kratos' OpenSpace® software-defined satellite ground system with Intelsat's space and ground network, including its cloud-native virtualized 5G core.

The over-the-air testing validated the integration using Intelsat's Galaxy 19 Ku-band GEO satellite, with multiple User Equipment emulators successfully establishing connections within the 5G-NTN cell. This milestone represents a significant step toward extending terrestrial 5G networks with satellite technology, enabling ubiquitous broadband services regardless of location.

Positive

• Successful demonstration of end-to-end 5G-NTN network integration
• Validation of satellite's role in delivering ubiquitous 5G services
• Potential expansion into unserved or underserved markets through satellite connectivity

Negative

• None.

Insights

Satellite Communications Expert

Kratos-Intelsat's successful 5G-NTN demo marks critical technical validation for satellite-based 5G services, potentially expanding Kratos's market opportunities.

The successful demonstration between Kratos and Intelsat represents a significant technical milestone in the integration of satellite technology with terrestrial 5G networks. By validating an end-to-end 5G-NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) system over Intelsat's Galaxy 19 Ku-band GEO satellite, Kratos has proven its OpenSpace® software-defined ground system can support the emerging 5G-NTN ecosystem.

This achievement is particularly notable as it demonstrates interoperability with 3GPP Release 17 standards, which incorporated NTN specifications into 5G for the first time. The cloud-native implementation of the 5G NTN gNodeB (satellite base station) positions Kratos at the forefront of virtualized satellite ground systems, a key evolutionary direction for the industry.

The market implications are substantial. By enabling standard 5G user equipment to connect via satellite, this technology could dramatically expand connectivity options for underserved regions. For Kratos, this represents potential expansion of their addressable market beyond traditional defense applications into commercial telecommunications infrastructure.

The demonstration's technical architecture—combining Kratos's virtual ground system, Intelsat's satellite network, VIAVI's user equipment emulators, and Radisys's cloud-native software—highlights the complex ecosystem required for these advanced systems. Notably, the successful PDU (Protocol Data Unit) traffic flows from different locations validate the system's practical functionality.

While promising, the commercial deployment timeline remains unspecified, and the demonstration represents an early step toward fully operational services. The economics of widespread deployment will ultimately determine how quickly this technology transitions from demonstration to commercial reality.

Over-the-air testing validates satellite’s role in delivering end-to-end 5G services

SAN DIEGO, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in Defense, National Security and Global Markets, today announced the successful demonstration of an end-to-end 5G-NTN network that combines the Kratos OpenSpace® software-defined satellite ground system with Intelsat’s space and ground network, including its cloud-native, virtualized 5G core. This event represents a key milestone towards the seamless extension of terrestrial 5G networks with satellite technology, providing critical validation of satellite’s role in the delivery of ubiquitous 5G services.

The Third Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) incorporated Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) into its 5G specifications with 3GPP Release 17, paving the way for the seamless extension of 5G services beyond terrestrial limits. Both Kratos and Intelsat are leading the market in 5G-NTN adoption; Kratos is working with key industry partners to develop cloud native 5G-NTN solutions for satellite operators, while Intelsat is focused on building a multi-layer, next-generation software-defined network.

Kratos and its partner Radisys announced last year their plans to develop a satellite base station – a 5G NTN gNodeB -- delivered completely as cloud-native software, to be deployed as part of the OpenSpace® system. The over-the-air (OTA) demo conducted by Kratos and Intelsat validated that joint solution, leveraging it to orchestrate a 5G NR-NTN cell that was activated over Intelsat’s Galaxy 19 Ku-band GEO satellite. Multiple User Equipment (UE) emulators from partner VIAVI Solutions successfully attached and established PDU) traffic flows from different locations within the 5G-NTN cell, demonstrating that any standards-compliant terminal can access the 5G network on a satellite connection. This brings the industry closer to truly ubiquitous broadband services for all customers, regardless of location.

“This demonstration represents a significant milestone in both companies’ progress in advancing ubiquitous 5G connectivity that spans both terrestrial and space networks,” said Greg Quiggle, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Kratos. “This remarkable technical accomplishment demonstrates the value of the OpenSpace virtual ground system in enabling that connectivity.”

5G-NTN opens the door to a broad range of new communications services in markets unserved or underserved by terrestrial connectivity alone. It paves the way for seamless service delivery across satellite orbits, satellite operators and for mainstreaming satellite-enabled services seamlessly across the global web of terrestrial communications networks. Kratos’ OpenSpace platform will play a key role in that revolution by bringing the dynamic software-defined networking principles that are common in today’s terrestrial networks to the legacy satellite environment and leveraging a common, standards-based architecture for the delivery of global 5G services with terrestrial network partners.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology, products, system and software company addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. Kratos makes true internally funded research, development, capital and other investments, to rapidly develop, produce and field solutions that address our customers’ mission critical needs and requirements. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we seek to utilize proven, leading-edge approaches and technology, not unproven bleeding edge approaches or technology, with Kratos’ approach designed to reduce cost, schedule and risk, enabling us to be first to market with cost effective solutions. We believe that Kratos is known as an innovative disruptive change agent in the industry, a company that is an expert in designing products and systems up front for successful rapid, large quantity, low-cost future manufacturing which is a value-add competitive differentiator for our large traditional prime system integrator partners and also to our government and commercial customers. Kratos intends to pursue program and contract opportunities as the prime or lead contractor when we believe that our probability of win (PWin) is high and any investment required by Kratos is within our capital resource comfort level. We intend to partner and team with a large, traditional system integrator when our assessment of PWin is greater or required investment is beyond Kratos’ comfort level. Kratos’ primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles including software for command & control (C2) and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems, hypersonic vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter UAS, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality training systems for the warfighter. For more information, visit www.KratosDefense.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2024, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.

Press Contact:
Claire Burghoff
claire.burghoff@kratosdefense.com

Investor Information:
877-934-4687
investor@kratosdefense.com

FAQ

What did Kratos and Intelsat demonstrate in their 5G NTN testing?

They successfully demonstrated an end-to-end 5G-NTN network that combines Kratos OpenSpace® software-defined satellite ground system with Intelsat's space and ground network, including its cloud-native virtualized 5G core.

Which satellite was used in the Kratos (KTOS) and Intelsat 5G demonstration?

The demonstration was conducted using Intelsat's Galaxy 19 Ku-band GEO satellite.

What is the significance of Kratos' 5G NTN demonstration for the telecommunications industry?

The demonstration validates satellite's role in extending terrestrial 5G networks, enabling ubiquitous broadband services for customers regardless of location and paving the way for seamless service delivery across satellite orbits and operators.

How does Kratos' OpenSpace platform contribute to 5G-NTN development?

OpenSpace platform brings dynamic software-defined networking principles to the satellite environment and leverages a common, standards-based architecture for delivering global 5G services with terrestrial network partners.