MediaTek has set a new 5G milestone by being the first to enable smartphone access to a 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) in a lab environment, according to official news from MediaTek.
According to the report, MediaTek and Rohde & Schwarz collaborated to simulate data transmission tests to a 5G base station (GNB) on a low-orbit (LEO) satellite channel, taking the lead in demonstrating the ability to support satellite communications based on 5G smartphone hardware.
Officials said the test used MediaTek’s mobile communications test chip with 5G NR NTN satellite network capabilities, a low-orbit satellite channel simulator from Rohde & Schwarz and a test base station to simulate low-orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 600 kilometers and moving at speeds of up to 27,000 kilometers per hour in the lab, based on the features and procedures defined by the 3GPP R17 5G specification satellites.
In this experiment, MediaTek used the same components as a smartphone to demonstrate the feasibility of using 5G NTN technology for satellite communications. 5G NTN technology improves the reliability of global services by leveraging the economies of scale of existing mobile communications networks to help users get stable 5G connectivity in areas with no or weak service signals. The technology will not only allow for continued growth in the number of 5G subscribers, but also for commercial and enterprise applications such as emergency communications, transportation, agriculture, fleet and heavy machinery management and IoT devices.
