The three companies will conduct smartphone-use-case-focused testing and validation of 5G non-terrestrial networks (5G NTN).
Erik Ekudden, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Ericsson, called the consortium’s testing “a major milestone in the history of communications.”
According to the Swedish communications tech company, graduating 5G into satellite communications “could effectively mean that a future 5G smartphone could use 5G connectivity anywhere on Earth and provide complete global coverage for wideband data services, including places normally only covered by legacy satellite phone systems with limited data connectivity capabilities.”
The space-based network could also be used as back-up support to terrestrial networks in the event of major network outages or disasters, the company said.
Ericsson said the space testing comes after detailed research, which included multiple studies and simulations.
The goal of the testing will be to validate various technology components needed to enable 5G non-terrestrial networks, including a 5G smartphone, satellite payload and 5G network pieces on the ground.
This work also aims to validate that 5G NTN can be supported in a smartphone form factor allowing tomorrow's 5G smartphone to effectively become a satellite-phone. Initial tests will take place in an emulated space environment in France, where the majority of European space-focused industry is based.
John Smee, senior vice president of engineering, Qualcomm Technologies, said: "For 5G to fulfill on the promise of ubiquitous connectivity, it is imperative that it can also deliver network coverage in areas where terrestrial cellular networks do not exist, whether that be over oceans or in remote areas. Our planned research with Ericsson and Thales will kick off an important step in making this vital technology a reality."