Page 32 - EngineerIT August 2022 Digital

SPACE COMMUNICATION

Nokia radio technology to enable

AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-cell

phone connectivity from space

okia announced that it has chipsets. AST SpaceMobile will benefit from Nokia’s modular baseband plug-in cards which
signed a five-year 5G deal with add capacity where it is needed, offering flexibility and efficiency. Nokia will also provide its
NAST SpaceMobile, the company NetAct solution for network management and seamless daily network operations as well as
building the first and only space-based optimisation and technical support services.
cellular broadband network accessible “Connectivity should be considered an essential service like water, electricity or
directly by standard 4G or 5G mobile gas. Everyone should be able to have access to universal broadband services that will
devices. Under the deal, Nokia and ensure that no one is left behind,” said Tommi Uitto, president of Mobile Networks at
AST SpaceMobile will work to achieve Nokia. “Nokia has a long history of delivering connectivity solutions that have had a
their joint ambition to expand universal major and positive impact on society. We have worked closely with AST SpaceMobile on
coverage and connect underserved this important initiative for two years, which seeks to provide crucial connectivity from
communities around the world. The space to underserved communities around the world. We are of course proud that our
launch of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker technology is playing an important role in underpinning the networks.”
3 test satellite later this year will kick AST SpaceMobile plans to launch its BlueWalker 3 satellite for testing in early to
off global testing with mobile network mid-September from Cape Canaveral, Florida. BlueWalker 3 is a low Earth orbiting
operators on six continents. satellite and has an aperture of approximately 64 square metres which is designed to
AST SpaceMobile’s mission is to communicate directly with cellular devices via 3GPP standard frequencies. Ultimately, AST
eliminate the connectivity gaps faced SpaceMobile is aiming to deploy approximately 100 satellites to achieve substantial global
by over five billion mobile subscribers mobile coverage.
worldwide and to bring cellular “With the integration of Nokia’s AirScale system, AST SpaceMobile and Nokia are
broadband to approximately half of taking an important step toward closing connectivity gaps all over the world,” said Scott
the world’s population who remain Wisniewski, chief strategy officer at AST SpaceMobile. “Nokia is supporting us with
unconnected. Their approach will mean dozens of engineers and development professionals, including leading architecture
that subscribers outside the reach of research experts at Bell Labs, the industrial research arm of Nokia. In the coming months,
cellular coverage could have access we are scheduled to launch our BlueWalker 3 test satellite into low Earth orbit, which has
to broadband speeds without having a 64-square metre phased array antenna designed for direct-to-cell connectivity. With
to invest in specialised hardware and this satellite, we plan to conduct testing all over the world with leading mobile network
be able to roam from land networks operators, leveraging Nokia’s technology solutions on the ground.”
to space networks for the first time. Nokia is committed to equitable opportunity for all and access to education,
Through its mobile network operator healthcare, jobs and community digital services. Nokia supports the 2025 targets set by
relationships, AST SpaceMobile The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development that aims to ‘connect the other
has entered into agreements and half’ in the next five years. n
understandings with mobile network
operators which collectively service over
1,8 billion cellular customers.
Nokia’s AirScale Single RAN equipment
aims to enable AST SpaceMobile in
providing mobile services to new and
existing subscribers in regions currently
not served by terrestrial communication
networks. This includes connecting
devices globally on land, at sea or in flight.
Nokia will provide equipment from its
comprehensive, energy-efficient AirScale
portfolio including its AirScale base
stations powered by its latest generation
of Nokia’s ReefShark System-on-Chip (SoC)

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