CNES has tapped a trio of companies to work together on demonstrating 5G direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity as part of its France 2030 vision.
Thales Alenia Space—a joint company between Thales and Leonardo—will lead the consortium, which also includes participation by Thales and Capgemini.
The mission: Under the U DESERVE 5G demo mission, the companies will launch a sat to LEO with a payload designed to send voice calls and data directly from space to a mobile device, bypassing ground stations entirely. As part of the demonstration, operators will run scenarios to test how quickly and smoothly devices can transition between satellite and terrestrial connectivity, according to a press release.
“This pioneering 5G-by-satellite project represents a major breakthrough for Thales and the telecommunications industry,” Alexandre Bottero, Thales’ VP of networks and infrastructure systems, said in a statement.
The consortium’s aim to develop 5G D2D solutions for non-terrestrial connectivity (NTN), Bottero added, is “enabling high-speed connectivity, even in the most remote areas, [and] laying the groundwork for the future of global communications.”
Zoom out: The broader France 2030 program is expected to invest €54B ($63.5B) in high-priority areas that are expected to drive significant economic growth. The national space strategy portion of the vision includes €1.5B ($1.8B) to prioritize supporting companies working on new tech, including sovereign rockets and satellite constellations.
