The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully conducted a pioneering experiment utilizing its advanced 5G/6G laboratory at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands. This initiative, in collaboration with Telesat, involved the LEO 3 demonstration satellite, which is crucial for low-latency applications and technological advancements.
For the first time, 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology was tested with a fast-moving low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, enabled by Amarisoft's 5G technology. The connection remained stable as the satellite moved across the sky, showcasing its potential for real-world applications, unlike previous tests conducted with geostationary satellites.
This breakthrough has significant implications for various sectors, including emergency response, telehealth, and autonomous systems. By employing open telecommunications standards from the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the technology ensures compatibility with standard mobile devices, facilitating seamless network transitions and reducing dependence on ground infrastructure for global connectivity, even in remote locations.
Antonio Franchi, ESA's Head of the 5G/6G NTN Programme Office, emphasized the achievement's strategic importance, stating, "We are proud to continue to drive European technological leadership and innovation in the domain of Non-Terrestrial Networks." He noted that such tests highlight ESA's commitment to advancing innovative 5G and 6G systems that create social and economic opportunities.
Alberto Ginesi, ESA's Head of the Telecom Systems and Techniques Section, reiterated the agency's expertise, saying, "This world-first experiment demonstrates ESA's technical excellence in advancing broadband satellite access technology." He confirmed that the 5G NTN specifications were successfully proven over a real non-geostationary orbit satellite link.
Telesat's Director of Spectrum Strategy, Mario Neri, pointed out the uniqueness of the collaboration, stating, "This activity allowed testing the recently standardised 5G NTN technology in a real-world scenario, using the Ka-band spectrum over our LEO 3 satellite - something that no one had ever done before."
Marouan Benabdellah-Chaouni from Amarisoft highlighted the broader implications of this technology, stating, "Affordable technology is at the heart of Amarisoft's mission. With 5G over satellite, we're making global connectivity more accessible."
This experiment is part of ESA's Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity programme, which aims to merge space-based and terrestrial networks, ensuring continuous global coverage. The success of this initiative lays the groundwork for future projects like IRIS, advancing the vision of universal connectivity.