Satellites and 5G Connectivity

Satellites and 5G ConnectivityIn Conversation with Omar Qaise, Founder & CEO OQ Technology5G is not just about network communications. It has far-reaching effects across industries. Learn more in this industry E-book.Contents

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Introduction

There is a perception that satellites are expensive. Whether it is for acquiring new hardware or promoting business communication services, this belief has hindered the growth of satellite services and confined them relatively to just a handful of major firms worldwide.

On the terrestrial side, however, there have been significant advances because of 3GPP cellular communication technologies, enabling large scale deployments at a very low cost of data on cellular modules.

To cite an example, a cellular 5G chip can cost anywhere between $5 and $10. This is something that does not exist in the satellite world.

In classic satellite constellations like Iridium or Globalstar, the RF module and model will cost between $150 and $200 for only the model.

As a result, the growth scale appears to be very different. And there lies the big difference.

Satellite Cellular Communications: A New Horizon

I have always been excited about the possibility of introducing cellular communication into the satellite-driven communications space. Satellite cellular communications were earlier confined to backhaul and cellular channels. We had to focus on arranging small cells or an access network, then collecting all the traffic for sending it to a geostationary satellite.

However, while the idea was valid, nothing was done to specifically address more direct mobile communications with a satellite.

The scenario is changing.

Today, on the hardware side, we may utilize standardized current cellular 5G chips to link the satellite; these will be relatively inexpensive and will be capable of switching between terrestrial and satellite networks. This would enable ubiquitous connectivity anywhere in the world, with the same benefits of cellular communication in terms of security and scalability and larger amounts of data. The model would adhere to the global standards, be easily acceptable, and be capable of creating an ecology from the ground up. The difficulty with satellites, however, has always been the waveforms and networks. And technology utilized on cellular platforms is not designed for satellites, but rather for stationary cell towers on the ground and high power infrastructure. We are focusing on ways to adopt it, put it on a satellite, and still operate as if it is from a cellular tower. This forms the core of our vision at OQ.

What needs to be noted here is that while the broadband communication domain is more challenging, it is no longer an impossible ask. In an IoT environment especially, the bitrate offered today by the mobile networks is more than enough for IoT applications. While this requirement will decline on a satellite network, but it will still be superior to other satellite systems on the machine or IoT side – but not on the broadband front. Most of the satellite IoT protocols today have Aloha type of random access protocols, resulting in limited capacity.

However, with the cellular OFDM and Nearby Scheme, as the number of users grows, companies may use a scheduling strategy to spread the users out on frequency and time, allowing them to use more of the spectrum, as opposed to other satellite-based IoT protocols.

Transforming Machine to Machine Communication

We are now looking at enhanced volumes of machine-to-machine communication leveraging satellites, with reduced price offerings that continue to be competitive and attractive. This is the key difference today when it comes to broadband via satellites, ensuring access to greater infrastructure in terms of antennas and more powerful beams. When it comes to higher frequencies, we aim to take a different strategy by focusing first on the narrowband IoT industry, which is the low-hanging fruit that we can catch. It is also easy to scale up later after the platform has been integrated with customers in a network and given spectrum access.

To update satellite protocol from narrowband IoT to the new radio, we need only a software upgrade. If the necessary radios are onboard, one can do it on the fly. And if you are integrated into a network with customers, the transition is even easier.

This is what Starlink and the other leaders are pursuing.

Considering the 5G factor here, while the scenario may appear more complex, the on-ground reality is evolving. We are trying to approach this the MMTC side with small satellites that are built faster and are cheaper to launch and maintain. With this, you could still close your business case with the capacity of the number that you have, and then look forward into broadband expansion.

Driving Next-Gen Mobility

Mobility is an important aspect for us, especially for those who rely on cellular networks. We want customers to enjoy the same cellular standards where we provide the services. For instance, today's users leverage cellular technologies, but we also have Wi-Fi. I believe there are really different types of markets if you look at them, because Starlink is more for a kind of backhaul, under-served communities, where a satellite dish is all the equipment needed, without access to a DSL to get to the internet.

So, in this scenario, it may appear that the mobility focus does not have to depend on 5G.

However, if you look at another type of application, such as smart cars, they have cellular chips inside, and they ensure that the cellular chip can survive for many years. This is because you cannot change that hardware if you are dependent on one operator, but what if that operator does not exist tomorrow? What would happen to the auto OEMs?

It is a struggle. However, with a global standard, even if one operator or chip maker fails, the others have adhered to the same standard. In this instance, it gives more confidence to rely on cellular communication. It is distinct. Also, rather than a large dish on the roof, you need something smaller, something that you can embed in your equipment.

We continue to drive direct satellite to cellular IoT device communication, which depends significantly on the emerging 5G communication protocols.

5G for the Future

Customers find value in what we do as our hybrid offering is mobile-compatible. It is also more efficient and can handle more data.

Despite its modest size and low cost, it can provide more data than all other options for IoT and machine-to-machine connectivity, while everything else on the satellite plane continues to be prohibitively expensive.

The current paradigm has taken some time to catch on, but is accelerating. And I think this is because the organizations today have greater pressure on their side to have the broadband 5G terrestrial network up and running.

So narrowband IoT in distant locations is something they are looking into, but the progress we are making with solution providers or consumers of satellite communication is ramping up even faster.

We expect that with mobile carriers this will improve very soon, and help us redefine the landscape.

In five years, I see our satellite-based solutions becoming an essential component of the worldwide 5G mobile network. They will be as ubiquitous as a SIM card that could connect to your local cell network. Once out of coverage, users will automatically roam to the ACU satellite network until you know you are back where they are.

We hope to provide consumers with the same cellular experience as their local mobile providers.