First regenerative 5G mmWave satellite payload
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Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO) in France has developed the world’s first regenerative 5G mmWave payload for high speed broadband in orbit.
With millimetre wave links, the payload is intended for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites to provide low latency and high speed data from an orbit below 400km. The StarLink broadband satellites from SpaceX for example operate at an orbit of 550km.
The company raised €9.3m to develop a constellation of VLEO satellites to enable telecom operators to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access from space.
After testing on the ground under simulated space environmental conditions, the first regenerative operational payload, called the Early Test, has been integrated into the ION satellite platform from Italian supplier D-orbit, which will allow it to operate from orbit.
This payload is scheduled to be launched into space in June 2025, marking the first use of the 5G mmWave wave spectrum above 24GHz for high-speed, low-latency internet data transmission via satellite. 5G mmWave can provide up to 10Gbit/s of bandwidth but the longer distance from orbit will reduce the link speed.
A regenerative payload allows the satellite to perform some of the functions of a basestation rather than just routing the signals in a transparent mode.
The company is planning a total constellation of 1,500 to 3,400 satellites, with the first two expected to launch as early as next year with the rest flying between 2027 and 2030. These are likely to be ‘self cleaning’ as the drag from the residual atmosphere means they burn up after a period of time.
The Early Test was designed to integrate and validate CTO’s essential hardware and software technologies for high-speed connectivity. After its assembly, it underwent rigorous testing to confirm its functionality on the ground before being successfully integrated into the satellite platform that will support its operation once deployed in orbit.
“Our regenerative 5G mmWave payload is a world first that confirms CTO’s ability to accelerate the convergence between terrestrial and space connectivity. It is a fundamental brick to continue developing the next generation space infrastructure for telecoms operators that they can operate as they do today with terrestrial networks,” said Charles Delfieux, CEO of CTO.
This allows telecom operators to extend their coverage beyond terrestrial infrastructure limits using their 5G mmWave spectrum with a cost-effective way to deliver high-performance connectivity in rural, remote, and underserved areas.
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