Nokia has started a collaboration with the American company AST SpaceMobile, which works to deliver internet directly from a network of satellites. The big difference compared to, for example, Starlink and Project Kuiper is that AST SpaceMobile’s network must be able to deliver internet connection directly to mobile phones without the need for special satellite receivers or intermediate stations.
Nokia’s role in the collaboration is to supply AirScale Single RAN equipment and technical solutions for 4G and 5G to be used in the satellite network, and the first BlueWalker 3 satellite is scheduled to be launched in September. The company plans to have more than 100 satellites in orbit before the network can be ready to be put into operation. The number differs markedly from, for example, Starlink, which currently has nearly 5,000 satellites in orbit and has applied for permission to send up a further 30,000 satellites. AST SpaceMobile’s satellites are, however, significantly larger, BlueWalker 3 is roughly 64 square meters, something that has drawn criticism from, among others, Nasa due to the risk of collision.
For Nokia, the collaboration could be another step in the work where, on behalf of Nasa, they will develop mobile telephony for use on the moon.
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