Evaluation of GEO Satellite NB-IoT Performance in Urban Mobility Scenarios

Jun 16, 2025·
Toni Perković
Toni Perković
,
Josip Šabić
,
Nikola Brebrić
,
Ivo Stančić
,
Petar Šolić
DOI

Abstract

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) represent a promising solution for extending IoT connectivity beyond terrestrial infrastructure. This paper presents a measurement campaign that evaluates the performance of NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) communication over a Skylo GEO (geostationary Earth orbit) satellite link, in partnership with Deutsche Telekom. The experiment was carried out in Split, Croatia, using a Murata Type 1SC module, an NTN-capable device certified for the operation of GEO NB-IoT. Measurements were obtained under realistic mobility conditions in two scenarios: with the antenna placed inside a vehicle (indoor) and mounted externally on the roof (outdoor). Signal quality parameters including RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power), RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), SINR (Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio), and pathloss were recorded and georeferenced using GPS(Global Positioning System). A comparative analysis demonstrates that the external antenna configuration yields a significant improvement in signal strength and link quality. The correlation analysis confirms strong relationships between RSRP and SINR, supporting the link budget assumptions in GEO NTN environments. These findings validate the viability of commercial NB-IoT deployments over satellite links and highlight the importance of antenna placement in mobile NTN applications.

Type

Publication

International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Technologies (SpliTech), 1–9

Status

Peer-reviewed
publications
Toni Perković
Authors
Toni Perković
Full Professor
I am a Full Professor in the Department of Electronics and Computing at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB), University of Split, Croatia, where I teach wireless network security, wireless communication networks, data science and reinforcement learning. My research spans information security, applied cryptography and the Internet of Things. Before returning to FESB in 2020, I was an assistant and then associate professor at the University Department of Forensic Sciences in Split. I co-founded the SpliTech international conference and serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Communications Software and Systems.