The Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support and promote standards-based satellite communications technologies globally.

The collaboration focuses on 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards, including direct-to-device (D2D), 5G NR and NB-IoT services, with a focus on ensuring interoperability and certification for products connecting to NTNs.

The GCF and MSSA will work together on areas of mutual interest related to the certification of products and services, supporting a broad range of applications, including personal communication, IoT, mission-critical and automotive devices with access to NTNs.

Under the MoU, the two bodies will collaborate to support the development of certification requirements and testing frameworks for 3GPP NTN technologies, such as 5G NR, NB‑IoT and D2D services, leveraging the current GCF framework.

The collaboration will also support the deployment of a scalable NTN certification model, promote interoperability and roaming between terrestrial and non‑terrestrial networks as well as across different NTN constellations, and encourage validation and field-testing activities in operational conditions by leveraging MSSA operators’ networks.

“The GCF is proud to join forces with the MSSA to drive the market adoption of 3GPP standards-based NTN technologies,” said Lars Nielsen, GCF (www.globalcertificationforum.org) director general. “MSSA’s expertise and leadership in mobile satellite services is crucial as we build certification programmes for non-terrestrial networks, ensuring mobile satellite devices deliver uncompromising reliability and interoperability.” 

The GCF has been working with industry partners, including 3GPP and the GSMA, to develop certification programmes for devices supporting NTN access, with conformance testing for NTN NB-IoT in GEO satellite systems being active in GCF certification since 2024, and ongoing work to expand to NGSO (LEO) constellations, and include NTN 5G NR technology. 

The MSSA, together with its members and partners, is advancing the broader NTN ecosystem by promoting standards, open architectures and industry alignment to support the integration of terrestrial and satellite networks.

By bringing together GCF’s global certification expertise and MSSA’s role in coordinating across the satellite and mobile ecosystem, the two organisations are well-positioned to address evolving industry requirements and support the development and deployment of interoperable, standards-based NTNs. This collaboration highlights the value of industry-wide cooperation in enabling scalable, reliable mobile connectivity across integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

“This collaboration with the GCF strengthens a critical foundation for the future of mobile connectivity,” said Mark Dankberg, MSSA chairman. “Certification and interoperability are essential to turning NTN innovation into real-world solutions. Together with the GCF, we will help drive standards-based interoperability and support a more unified certification approach that enables scale and brings satellite-enabled services to market with greater confidence.”

The MSSA (www.mss-association.org) is a non-profit industry association, founded in 2024, that seeks to develop, promote and advance the emerging ecosystem for NTN services, including D2D, for consumer, commercial, civil and government applications globally.