Vodafone and Nokia are Taking 4G into Orbit
Vodafone and Nokia are preparing to generate the very first 4G network on the Moon in a bid to support a PTScientists (formerly Part Time Scientists) space mission scheduled for 2019.
They want to broadcast 4G using the 1800 MHz frequency band to send the first live HD feed of the Moon’s surface back to Earth. The mission proposes to visit the Apollo 17 lunar roving vehicle, left by Cernan and Schmitt, allowing the LRV to be seen via streaming.
Vodafone Germany CEO, Dr Hannes Ametsreiter, said, “This project involves a radically innovative approach to the development of mobile network infrastructure. It is also a great example of an independent, multi-skilled team achieving an objective of immense significance through their courage, pioneering spirit and inventiveness.”
PTScientists, a Berlin-based organisation will be working with Vodafone Germany and Audi to launch the first privately-funded lunar mission as part of the X Prize Foundation, scheduled to take off next year, launching from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Audi is providing two Quattro rovers connecting the Autonomous Landing and Navigation Module (ALINA) using the Moon’s first 4G network.
Nokia Bell Labs will provide the hardware behind the 4G network by, the company hopes to create a space-grade form of its Ultra Compact Network system which weighs less than a kilogram and will enable data to be sent back to the base station.
Earlier this month, SpaceX successfully launched two satellites to test its Starlink network which has the potential to beam internet all over the planet, while this collaboration, if successful, be become one, mighty step for mankind in a bid to bring Earth and the Moon closer, connected.
Our own Digi-X Global systems also consist of all of the things Vodaphone and Nolia are pushing for the moon. From one-to-one calls or broadcasting to large groups, to ad-hoc and personal groups, as well as priority alert (SOS) sessions, Digi-X Global can cater to a range of requirements and also live stream. Contact a member of our team today to learn more.
