5G satellite networks are set to be a huge money-spinner

vtqhtr413 · Sep 19, 2023

Telecommunications operators stand to gain 17$ billion of extra revenue between 2024 and 2030, by offering 3GPP-compliant (Third-generation Partnership Project) 5G satellite networks, new research has claimed. A new report released by Juniper Research argue that in order for Satellite Network Operators (SNO) to launch monetizable, satellite-based 5G services, they need to sign partnerships with telecommunications operators. Juniper describes SNOs as the only ones able to launch, and maintain, next-gen satellites.

The first commercial launch of a 5G satellite network will happen next year, the analysts further estimate. By 2030, there will be more than 110 million 3GPP-compliant 5G satellite connections. Currently, around the world, there are many 5G networks that are based on 4G infrastructure and as such cannot realize the full potential of next-gen connectivity infrastructure. True 5G, also known as Standalone 5G, is yet to be established around the world, with many industries, as well as regular consumers, in eager anticipation.

Besides the obvious improvements, such as faster speeds, lower latency, and improved capacity, 5G can enhance connectivity in crowded areas, and provide better coverage and range, particularly in rural and lightly populated areas. 5G networks are also designed to be more energy-efficient, lowering the carbon footprint of wireless communications infrastructure. The technology will be crucial in the development of Internet of Things (IoT), be it industrial sensors, smart city endpoints, or connected cars.

vtqhtr413 · Sep 19, 2023

AST SpaceMobile — a cellular satellite company backed by AT&T — has placed a satellite call over 5G, marking the “first ever” 5G connection between an unmodified smartphone and a satellite in space. To conduct the test, AST SpaceMobile used a Galaxy S22. It made the call on September 8th, 2023, from a wireless dead zone in Maui, Hawaii, with its recipient located in Madrid, Spain. AST SpaceMobile got the cell signal to its destination by leveraging its low Earth orbit test satellite, called BlueWalker 3 (BW3), and AT&T’s 5G spectrum. Vodafone, Nokia, and AT&T all validated the call.

“Once again, we have achieved a significant technological advancement that represents a paradigm shift in access to information,” Abel Avellan, the CEO of AST SpaceMobile, says in a statement. “Since the launch of BW3, we have achieved full compatibility with phones made by all major manufacturers and support for 2G, 4G LTE, and now 5G.” While Apple rolled out satellite calling with the iPhone 14 and T-Mobile is working on satellite connectivity with SpaceX’s Starlink, AST SpaceMobile is trying to push the boundaries of space-based phone calls by leveraging 5G speeds. The company plans on launching five commercial BlueBird satellites in the first quarter of next year.