. | . |
How space helps connect everyone everywhere by Staff Writers Paris (ESA) Sep 09, 2022
Staying in touch with each another always, no matter whereabouts on Earth, is crucial for everything from driverless cars to remote healthcare, electronically enabled commerce, tele-education and remote working. Maintaining such connections relies not only on next-generation terrestrial 5G networks but also on satellites to make the connection when people and devices are in hard-to-reach areas. ESA is working with satellite communications company OneWeb, the 5G Innovation Centre at the University of Surrey and CGI, one of the largest IT and business services firms in the world, to showcase a space-enabled 5G network that tests the integration of satellites in low Earth orbit and terrestrial mobile 5G networks. The 5G pilot test project forms part of ESA's Sunrise Partnership Project with support from the UK Space Agency. The consortium will further develop how satellites in low Earth orbit can bring fast and high-bandwidth connectivity to those areas that are currently impossible to reach via traditional terrestrial services. Massimiliano Ladovaz, Chief Technical Officer at OneWeb, said: "Creating an interoperable low Earth orbit satellite communications and mobile 5G network is critical to achieve a ubiquitous, affordable, fast and consistent connectivity experience to businesses, users and governments. "That is why we are excited by this opportunity to test the future of global 5G connectivity across the OneWeb network. With our talented partners and with the support from ESA and the UK Space Agency, this pilot is an important step in our mission to connect people everywhere, on land, at sea and in the air, providing the opportunity for people to realise their full potential even in the remotest reaches of the planet." Rahim Tafazolli, Regius Professor and Head of the Institute for Communications at the University of Surrey, said: "Satellite systems are key enablers for 5G services and they will become increasingly integrated with communications networks as we progress beyond 5G towards 6G in solving cost-effectively the societal challenge of the digital divide. "The University of Surrey's 5G and 6G Innovation Centre is delighted to be participating in the 5G pilot project, providing key network functionality, innovation and test-bed facilities, as part of our ongoing strategy to remain at the cutting edge of networking and satellite research and expertise." Shaun Stretton, Senior Vice President for Space Control and Information Solutions at CGI in the UK, said: "Fully integrated 5G hybrid networks bring the promise of ubiquitous, seamless and high-speed connectivity to us all. Mobile platforms bring unique challenges in realising this vision, making projects like the 5G pilot incredibly important. At CGI we have been leading the way in making these complex integrated networks a reality and we are very much looking forward to working with our world-class partners to further address these challenges so that we can bring these game-changing capabilities to market." Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA, said: "ESA is at the forefront of 5G/6G innovation, supporting industry and academia to be the world champions of the digital transformation race. ESA's Sunrise Partnership Project is the best vehicle to validate disruptive connectivity pilots through space and terrestrial infrastructures, in cooperation with OneWeb, the University of Surrey and CGI. "ESA will continue promoting the excellence of the European and Canadian space industries and academia, pushing technology barriers and preparing new commercial services for the benefits of its citizens."
LEO satellite cluster to provide secure digital military intelligence from 2024 London, UK (SPX) Sep 08, 2022 BAE Systems is set to launch its first multi-sensor satellite cluster into low Earth orbit in 2024 to deliver high-quality information and intelligence in real time from space to military customers. Known as AzaleaTM, the group of satellites will use a range of sensors to collect visual, radar and radio frequency (RF) data, which will be analysed by on board machine learning on edge processors to deliver the resulting intelligence securely, anywhere in the world while still in orbit. Following the ... read more
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |