Europe teams up for satellite 5G

The European Space Agency (ESA) and 16 satellite industry leaders have signed a joint statement on collaboration to develop and demonstrate the added value that satellite communications will bring to 5G.

As part of an ESA initiative to take place over 2018–20 and beyond, the partners will work together on:

• 5G service trials, including satellite capabilities, with a focus on selected sectors such as transport and public safety; and
• applications development, standardisation, resource management aspects, interoperability demonstration campaigns and supporting technologies.

The signatories will consolidate the defining elements of the trial project by the end of 2017.

The efforts are in line with, and will build on, existing initiatives of the European Commission on 5G and will seek complementarity with other European, national and international initiatives.

Convergence between European industry and institutions on 5G will also be discussed at the ESA/European Space Policy Institute conference on ‘Space and Satcom for 5G: European Transport and Connected Mobility’, 27–28 June.

“5G provides a major opportunity for our space industry, for space and satellites to become integral parts of the future generation of communications networks and services,” ESA Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Magali Vaissiere said.

Image courtesy ESA.

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