World’s First 5G Spatial Network Announced by Two European Companies and MediaTek
European satellites company Eutelstat, aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Taiwanese MediaTek announced last February the succes of the first trial for a non-terrestrial 5G network (NTN) operated in space. The successful test marks the way for the development of the 5G NTN standard, holding the potential for future spatial and terrestrial interoperability that will make 5G more available for everyone worldwide.
The trial used Eutelsat OneWeb satellites along with MediaTek’s NR NTN test chipset and an NR NTN test gNB from ITRI, following the 3GPP Release 17 standards. Sharp and Rohde & Schwarz provided the antennas and test equipment, while the LEO satellites, made by Airbus, had transponders with Ku-band and Ka-band links, and used the “Earth-moving beams” concept.
During the trial, the 5G user terminal successfully connected to the 5G network through the satellite and exchanged data.
As 5G standards are adopted across the mobile industry, compatible satellite networks will work together smoothly with terrestrial networks. This will provide widespread connectivity, reduce costs, and create new opportunities for smartphones, cars, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
This innovation, which joins recent developments in the field like Vodafone’s first spatial video call achieved in January, presents a future where more companies compete or cooperate with Elon Musk’s Starlink network, a pioneer in offering Internet to remote areas through satellites.
What are LEO satellites?
LEO satellites, like the ones used in this test, are satellites that orbit Earth at low altitudes ranging from about 160 to 2,000 kilometers (100 to 1,240 miles) above the Earth’s surface. This proximity to the surface allows for faster transmission of data, necessary for the Internet connection to properly work.
These satellites travel at high speeds, typically taking around 90 minutes to complete one orbit around the Earth, and that helps bring global coverage of the network, using a constellation of several devices.
“True global satellite broadband connectivity for 5G devices”
Regarding the announcement, Arlen Kassighian from Eutelsat emphasized the company’s commitment to developing new technologies and their leadership in 5G NTN innovation, highlighting that Eutelsat is the first satellite operator to demonstrate 5G connectivity on a commercial fleet.
Mingxi Fan, from MediaTek, talked about their mission to improve global connectivity, particularly in areas without cellular coverage, and how the trial moves them closer to offering 5G NTN satellite services for commercial use.
Elodie Viau, from Airbus, highlighted how the successful 5G NTN trial with their OneWeb satellites shows the flexibility of the satellites and opens up the possibility of global satellite broadband for 5G devices, contributing to the development of 5G NTN technology. The test “not only proves the flexibility and innovative design of the satellites but opens the prospect of true global satellite broadband connectivity for 5G devices”, said the directive.
