Nokia is planning to launch 4G internet on the moon later this year

Finnish telecommunications equipment provider Nokia recently announced its intention to establish a 4G/LTE network on the moon by 2023, facilitating the lunar exploration missions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This initiative stems from the contract Nokia secured in 2020 through NASA’s Tipping Point program, aimed at erecting the first extraterrestrial 4G/LTE communication network base station on the moon.

SpaceX rockets to assist in Nokia’s lunar network construction

As divulged by Nokia’s Chief Engineer Luis Maestro Ruiz De Temino at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress to CNBC, the company anticipates deploying 4G/LTE network equipment on the moon with the aid of SpaceX rockets by the end of this year.

Nokia’s 4G/LTE network serves as a critical component of NASA’s Artemis I lunar landing program, which aspires to transport two astronauts, including the first female astronaut, to the lunar surface by 2024. The long-term objective of the Tipping Point program is to establish infrastructure for sustained activity on the moon by 2030.

Network equipment and testing plans detailed

Nokia revealed that the planned lunar network encompasses an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) LTE base station, LTE user devices, RF antennas, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) control software. The compact base station will be mounted on the lunar lander Nova-C, crafted by American aerospace company Intuitive Machines, while user devices will be installed on the rover responsible for lunar surface sample collection, which will be autonomously deployed by the lander.

Communication between the two will be transmitted via the LTE/4G network. The rover will initially test communication with the lunar lander over a few hundred meters, subsequently extending the distance to 2-3 kilometers. Customized operations and maintenance software will oversee the entire testing process.

Deployment timeline and future prospects

Originally slated for completion by the end of 2022, Nokia’s deployment has been deferred to the present year. The mission is expected to span several weeks, during which the network and its performance will be evaluated. Nokia asserts that the 4G/LTE network will serve as a precursor to 5G, ultimately supporting astronaut activities and research, encompassing audiovisual communication, telemetry data transmission, physiological data, sensor application execution, and robot control.

Via: CNBC