Kymeta, Intelsat and Fraunhofer Demonstrate Satellite-Enabled 5G Connectivity
Kymeta, Intelsat, and Fraunhofer IIS have successfully demonstrated satellite-enabled 5G services for mobile communications. The test utilized Kymeta's u8 antenna and Intelsat's network.
Redmond, Wash., and McLean, Va. — November 9, 2021 — Kymeta and Intelsat announced the successful demonstration of satellite-enabled 5G services on Kymeta's electronically steered u8 flat-panel antenna using Intelsat's global integrated satellite and terrestrial network. This marked the first test of its kind in a mobile environment.
The demonstration was conducted by Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS at Kymeta headquarters in partnership with Intelsat. The collaboration aimed to advance the development of 5G satellite communication technology for mobility.
Ryan Stevenson, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientist at Kymeta, stated that participation in this early testing for 5G standards over satellite represents a significant step forward. He noted that hosting these 5G waveforms over the Kymeta u8 terminal pushes the boundaries of what is possible.
Bruno Fromont, Chief Technology Officer at Intelsat, emphasized the company's role in advocating for 5G standards and providing leadership in 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Networks standards. He described the validation of 5G mobile communications over satellite networks with Kymeta and Fraunhofer IIS as a significant milestone towards a unified, software-defined 5G network.
This collaboration between industry leaders and the successful demonstration validates the capability to leverage hybrid connectivity across satellite and terrestrial cellular networks, aiming to meet the increasing demand for mobile communications.