Kymeta, Intelsat, Fraunhofer exhibit satellite-enabled 5G

Communications company Kymeta and Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest and most advanced integrated satellite and terrestrial network, announced the successful demonstration of satellite-enabled 5G services on Kymeta’s electronically steered flat-panel u8 antenna. 

The companies used Intelsat’s global integrated satellite and terrestrial network—the first test of its kind in a mobile environment, to achieve the result.

Carried out by leading applied research organisation Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, the demonstration was held at Kymeta headquarters in partnership with Intelsat to help develop 5G satellite communication technology for mobility.

Ryan Stevenson, Ph.D., Vice President, and Chief Scientist at Kymeta, said: “Our participation in this early testing for the development of 5G standards over satellite is an important step in the next generation of connectivity and where 5G is heading. 

“By hosting these 5G waveforms over the Kymeta u8 terminal, our technology continues to push the boundaries of what is possible,” he said. 

Leveraging hybrid connectivity across satellite and ground cellular networks 

The partnership between the key industry leaders and successful demonstration further validates the ability to seamlessly leverage hybrid connectivity across satellite and ground cellular networks to develop solutions that satisfy the overwhelming demand for communications on the move, Kymeta said in a statement. 

Talking about Intelsat’s involvement in the demonstration, Bruno Fromont, Chief Technology Officer at the company, said: “Validating the feasibility of 5G mobile communications over satellite networks with Kymeta and Fraunhofer IIS is a significant milestone toward recognising our future vision of an end-to-end ecosystem for a unified software-defined 5G network on a global scale.”

Thomas Heyn, Group Manager at Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, added: “Satellite-enabled 5G services have the potential to provide worldwide connectivity,” said Thomas Heyn, Group Manager at Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS. “Fraunhofer IIS is focused on developing and prototyping technologies that are vital for the future, such as 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks as currently standardised in 3GPP. Our team is pleased to partner with Kymeta and Intelsat to develop groundbreaking developments in this innovation process.”