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| Starlink's satellites |
5G space is getting excited by another new domain - that's 5G NTN (Non Terrestrial Network). The basic idea of 5G NTN is to deliver 5G/NR service via satellite or other airborne platform (like Google Balloons or Project Loon).
Earlier I wrote regarding the competition between 5G and satellite broadband will be inevitable. But they can synergize to create an efficient and much-desired fusion of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks to bring internet connectivity in the country as well as globally.
5G-NR is known for the enhanced speed, higher network capacity, lower latency, improved reliability and coverage. With 5G-NR there are new and innovative uses with IoT - like smart cities, remote industrial automation, artificial intelligence and augmented reality, revolutionizing industries, and empowering novel applications.
While satellite connectivity since inception was limited to non-standardized, standalone proprietary technology. But the scenario is changing. GSACOM notes, "Satellites are rapidly gaining prominence in the world of cellular communication technology, as outlined in Release 16, 17, and 18 of the 3GPP roadmap, and the extent to which 5G NTN will complement terrestrial-based phone services and enhance user experiences are currently being explored."
The satellite connectivity saw a new herald in 2019 while Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX launched 60 satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) in 2019 to launch commercial satellite broadband services under Starlink brand. On date of today, Starlink has more than 4,000 small LEO satellites in the space with nearly 1.5million customers on earth (May, 2023).
By the end of April, 2023, 32 operators have partnered with satellite providers to offer services - 3 of which already launched services.
As Russia started war on Ukraine there was news that Ukraine's Kyivstar has partnered with Starlink, while Kyivstar's parent company - Veon has talks with OneWeb for their Europe, Africa and Asia operations. Starlink is providing satellite internet to Ukraine's defence and civilian posts during this Russian invasion.
✱ Skylo
Mountain View, California based Skylo (https://www.skylo.tech) is the market leader in the NTN space. With a simple firmware upgrade, they augment cellular networks with existing geostationary satellites for affordable and continuous coverage, anywhere on Earth. They are using Qualcomm's Aware Platform to offer IoT-NTN services to industries. They are charging approx $6 per device connected to Skylo network.
Qualcomm Aware Platform has got two new modems for this purpose. Qualcomm 212S is Qualcomm Technologies' first IoT-NTN-only modem compliant with 3GPP Release 17 standards for satellite communications, ensuring cost efficiency and value. While Qualcomm 9205S modem provides seamless cellular and satellite network connectivity for IoT devices, eliminating coverage gaps. It includes GNSS for accurate location data. Applications include tracking transoceanic shipping containers, agricultural equipment, livestock, and global fleet and freight for supply chain management.
✱ AST SpaceMobile 4G/5G via BlueWalker 3 Satellite
On June 21, 2023 Texas based AST SpaceMobile became the first telecom service provider to beam 4G-LTE signals from satellite, BlueWalker 3 to connect directly by standard smartphone. The test, conducted at Hawaii, achieved downlink of 10Mbps using AT&T spectrum and Nokia RAN technology.
Launched to space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in September-2022, BlueWalker 3 essentially acts as a space-based cellular tower, is designed to eventually send data at 5G speeds. Due to its massive size (693 square foot array), it has caused concern among the astronomical community, with some noting that it is as bright as a star in the night sky and it might block astronomical observation.
In April, AST SpaceMobile used BlueWalker 3 to route an audio call between two smartphones, one of which was in Texas and the other in Japan.
Unlike SpaceX's own Starlink internet satellites, BlueWalker 3 will not require users to install a dish and a space router on the ground to access the web.
After on-orbit tests of BlueWalker 3, the company has plans to send more than 100 similar satellites to orbit by the end of 2024. The constellation will be called as BlueBirds.
The ambitious AST wants to expand coverage for wireless companies, filling in gaps and dead zones in their networks. Multinational carrie rVodafone is highly interested to AST SpaceMobile. Vodafone's subsidiary Vodacom is looking forward to bring this capability to the customers of remote places of Africa and Europe.
Indian Scenario:
At present no satellite broadband services are commercially available.
Starlink started selling as pre-order of their receiver units, but later stopped by DoT, as they don't have any license for Indian operations.
OneWeb, backed by Bharti Global, who also owns telecom giant Airtel is yet to finalize their Indian operations. Though they received LoI from DoT.
Mukesh Ambani owned Jio also got LoI from DoT for their satellite arm, created as JV with SES.
Now satcom and telecom players are in loggerheads on the right of 28GHz spectrum band. Amazon backed Project Kuiper, OneWeb, Starlink, Telesat, Hughes who will launch satellite broadband in coming days in the country voted for reservation of this band for satellite connectivity, and they are very much vocal about it, as responded to TRAI's consultation paper. The satcom companies takes example of US, South Korea, Japan and Thailand where 5G over 28GHz is not successful or government of those countries take a stand to use that band of spectrum only for satellite communications.
Interestingly Jio and Vi wants that spectrum as technology neutral - mixed or flexible usage of spectrum. While Airtel, promoter of OneWeb notes that mmWave spectrum on 26GHz band got lukewarm response in the last auction and therefore they opine for keeping that band for satellite use.
Satellite Companies across the globe:
- SpaceX's Starlink - backed by Telsa owner Elon Musk. They already deployed 3,600 satellites in orbit and got the authorization to deploy 7500 of 30,000 second generation satellites. Web: https://www.starlink.com Availablity: https://www.starlink.com/map
- OneWeb - backed by Bharti Global, SoftBank and Hanwha. By end of September '23 Eutelsat merged with OneWeb. Post merger the ownership lies like Bharti Global 30%, Eutelsat 22.9%, British Govt. 17.6%, Japan's SoftBank 17.6% and South Korean conglomerate Hanwha 8.8%. Web: https://oneweb.net
- Project Kuipers - backed by Amazon - Planned for constellation of 3200 satellites
- Jio Satellite Communications Ltd (JSCL) - JV of Reliance Industries and Luxembourg-based SES, established in October 2021.
- Viasat - US satellite company with more than 40 years of satellite business experience.
- Eutelsat - French satcom company of 40 years of experience - merged with OneWeb (September '23)
- Inmarsat - British satcom company, now a subsidiary of Viasat
- Intelsat - Luxembourg-HQ-ed multinational company
- Iridium - US company of 20+ years of experience
- Telesat - Canada based company with 50+ years of experience. Telesat Lightspeed is their LEO constellation.
- Globalstar - US company with 30+ years of experience
- Guowang - backed by government of China. The fleet could include 13,000 satellites.
- IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security) - backed by European Union. Announced in November 2022, it is still in planning stage to make it active by 2027 with LEO satellites.
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