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5G mobile device that can connect with satellites would make
communication possible from remote corners of the planet and
provide a challenge to expensive satellite phones and rival
broadband internet services provided by Elon Musk's Starlink.
The companies will first do simulations on the ground before
carrying out tests in space, Hakan Djuphammar, head of Special
Projects at Ericsson's technology arm, said in an interview.
"Discussions are on for testing on the International Space
Station and with a few satellites," he said.
A space-based network could also be used to back up terrestrial
networks in the event of major outages or disasters, and offer
connections in places not covered by traditional service
providers.
Testing would continue well into 2023 as it needs to be seen
whether the technology can do this, and if it's feasible to
build a network of satellites that can connect with phones,
Djuphammar said. He did not specify when the tests would begin.
"The satellites move very fast, so the link changes very
rapidly. So we are going to do all those tests to validate that
the technology is mature and ready to perform these things."
(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee, writing by Anna Ringstrom;
editing by Barbara Lewis)
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