Tenders Are Invited For 5G Space User Terminal

Tenders are invited for 5g Space User Terminal (Artes 4.0 Spl 5g/6g 7a.080) - Expro+ - Re-Issue The frontiers for the deployment of 5G cellular networks have grown beyond the limits of the Earths atmosphere. The 3GPP cellular technologies have become attractive for exploration missions, such as Moon or Mars, as they can provide a standardised scalable, secure, high-capacity, and reliable connectivity. For Moon, the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG) has recently identified several bands for Lunar missions for the deployment of existing Earth communication protocols that includes the cellular element. In parallel to the connectivity, 5G networks can also be used to enhance the performance of navigation services fores een in LunaNet.The communication services will be primarily delivered by satellite-based solutions (already identified in the LunaNet architecture for the Moon). However, although the lunar relay satellites could technically provide surface-to-surface communications for a small number of users, such approach does not scale well as the number of users increases.To serve larger number of users, wireless cellularnetworks on the lunar surface are foreseen. With such deployments, an opportunity to offer 5G space user terminals emerges on the market. A new space-grade 5G user terminal will thus need to be developed, leveraging the technologies from 5G ground terminals, and making them available for exploration missions. This activity will design, manufacture, and test an engineering model of a 5G user terminal in FR1 for exploration missions. To achieve this, the activity willleverage on the current standards, techniques, and technologies. The activity will:- Review and consolidate the connectivity use cases of 3GPP networks in exploration missions (Moon and/or Mars)- Identify potential future exploration missions- Define and study architecture and scenarios of 5G cellular networks that could provide connectivity and enhanced navigation.- Design and implement an engineering model of 5G user equipment, including a test equipment, for connectivity in exploration missions.- Test the connectivity and positioning performance of the 3GPP networks using the developed test equipment.- Develop a roadmap to reach a flight model with integration of LunaNet navigation receiver capabilities Read less Tender Link : https://esastar-publication-ext.sso.esa.int/ESATenderActions/filter/open