Ottawa-based Square Peg Communications has entered into a strategic partnership with U.S. firm VIAVI Solutions to deliver test and validation platforms for the emerging 5G non-terrestrial network sector.
The agreement integrates Canadian satellite channel emulation hardware with a leading global wireless testing ecosystem. This collaboration is designed to resolve the technical verification hurdles network operators and device manufacturers face as satellite and terrestrial communication architectures converge under global 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) mobile protocols.
Connecting 5G networks to satellites introduces hurdles that regular cell towers do not face. Engineers have to deal with signals stretching or compressing as satellites fly by at high speeds. They also must manage the natural delay of sending data to space and back, along with the difficulty of keeping a connection stable as it jumps between moving satellites. To solve this in a laboratory, the joint platform links the Square Peg RLS-2100 simulator, which mimics the physical environment of space, with the VIAVI TM500 network tester, which behaves like everyday cellphones. This allows telecom companies to find and fix network problems on the ground before launching expensive equipment into orbit.
“As commercial interest in direct-to-device connectivity, LEO constellations and integrated terrestrial-space networks continue to accelerate, robust test environments are becoming essential to successful deployment,” said Ian Langley, senior vice-president of the wireless, security and applications business unit at VIAVI. “This partnership provides customers with access to comprehensive validation capabilities designed to de-risk product development, accelerating their time to market.”
Square Peg Communications has operated within the Canadian space and defence supply chain since 1995. The firm has a track record of supplying digital signal processing equipment and satellite link testing hardware to major aerospace contractors, including Boeing, Thales, and the European Space Agency. The company has also received investments from the Canadian Space Agency to support its research and development.
Incorporating Square Peg hardware into the VIAVI testing suite integrates a Canadian supplier into the broader supply chain for the global 5G non-terrestrial rollout. As chipset makers and telecom infrastructure providers prepare to launch direct-to-device services, standardized testing environments are required to secure regulatory approvals and ensure interoperability. The joint platform provides an end-to-end laboratory solution that allows engineers to validate system resilience and pre-certify hardware before initiating costly orbital deployments.