Unified 5G and NTN with SD-WAN brings on-demand intelligent connectivity for disaster response and commercial services

Commercial context

Customers who need connectivity in remote or disrupted areas still face a fragmented telecoms model. Satellite and 5G providers are typically separate, requiring systems integrators and virtual network operators to painfully integrate the different connectivity services to create both a compelling solution and commercial offer. Furthermore, service provider offerings are still predominantly saddled with manual IT processes which makes it inefficient to achieve scale and agility to deliver these services on-demand.

Nowhere is this problem more evident than in emergency response. When terrestrial networks go down, rescue teams in the field need instant, full-data connectivity. But building a functioning service requires multiple agreements, separate provisioning systems, and slow setup processes - all while lives are on the line.

The solution

The 'SATCOM with an Edge - Phase III' Catalyst sets out to solve that fragmentation. The goal is to deliver a single, streamlined experience that abstracts the network details and focuses on customer value. It also aims to create a new IT model where satellite and 5G operators can collaborate commercially. The result: unified services that reduce operational friction, expand coverage, and unlock new revenue streams.

Phase III builds on work from the Catalyst's earlier iterations. In Phase II, the team demonstrated a digital interface where customers could rapidly order and activate a composite SATCOM+5G service. Phase III pushes the concept further. It introduces SD-WAN for intelligent traffic routing based on the needs of end-user application performance such as latency, coverage, bandwidth and more.

This routing intelligence sits inside an IT framework powered by TM Forum Open APIs. These APIs separate customer-facing services from the underlying network infrastructure. In practice, this means customers can order, configure, and monitor services without needing to know whether their connection runs through fiber, 5G, or satellite. That abstraction also enables assurance and SLA-based monitoring, and billing - even when multiple operators contribute to the same end-to-end service.

The system uses an autonomous network approach to make dynamic use of GEO, LEO, and MEO satellite orbits in the backhaul, which is controlled by SD-WAN. Depending on the service requirement and network status, the solution selects the best available option to maintain application performance and reliability. For example, in disaster zones , the system can prioritize high-throughput LEO constellations for near-real-time mission-critical data transfer and communications with the central command center.

This flexibility depends on standardization, making TM Forum assets crucial. The Catalyst integrates more than a dozen APIs and frameworks, including TMF622 for product ordering, TMF640 for service activation, TMF638 for inventory, TMF623 for SLA management, and TMF727 for service usage. These standards ensure interoperability across domains and vendors, while enabling a scalable, modular architecture that CSPs can adapt to their own environments.

Application and wider value

Having demonstrated its capability to serve global emergency access, the Catalyst can be a key driver of the UN and ITU's 2030 agenda which includes affordable, universal connectivity as a development pillar. Although the team demonstrated the solution in the context of emergency response in mind, it has strong potential for other commercial applications. The proposed solution supports a range of use cases, including oil exploration, maritime logistics, agricultural IoT, and adventure media streaming and more. In each case, the common thread is the need for high-performance, flexible, on-demand connectivity in locations that traditional networks can’t easily reach.

As explained by Project Lead and IT Delivery Director for Bell Canada, Walter Mellet: "the ability to bring to bear the power of our joint capabilities for rapid response for emergency situations can have profound benefits to the general public. Going further, we believe a range of similar remote use cases could be enabled unlocking improvements to economic activity, environmental management, and quality of life."

The Catalyst also provides a standardized framework for how satellite and terrestrial operators can work together. It automates service orchestration and closed-loop autonomous operations and enables usage-based revenue models. This reduces manual intervention, improves time-to-market, and makes new types of services viable.

The project also lays the groundwork for a broader shift in the telecom business model. Instead of focusing on isolated technologies, it encourages operators to build end to end connectivity solutions with end customers in mind - ones that respond to real needs, regardless of how the data flows underneath. That shift opens new revenue channels and helps operators escape the flat growth curves of traditional connectivity services.

At a commercial level, this integration fosters high-value services with full digital experience. CSPs can offer bundled connectivity to enterprise customers, emergency responders, or government agencies with minimal integration overhead. That allows them to focus on speed, resilience, and user satisfaction - not on stitching systems together behind the scenes.

The social impact is just as compelling. Rapid deployment of hybrid connectivity in emergencies can save lives. The same capabilities can improve environmental monitoring, enable rural development, or expand access to remote education and healthcare. When connectivity adapts to the situation, not the other way around, the value multiplies.

As CSPs worldwide face pressure to improve margins, this Catalyst offers a clear path forward. It shows how they can combine their capabilities, lower cost-to-serve, and grow revenue by delivering more relevant, more responsive services. This isn’t just about solving technical fragmentation - it’s shaping a new era of unified, customer-centered connectivity.