SoftBank, Intelsat Join Forces to Build Hybrid 5G-Satellite Communication Network
SoftBank and Intelsat have signed a collaboration agreement to launch a single “Ubiquitous Network,” enabling customers to stay connected anywhere.
SoftBank and Intelsat will jointly lead research and development efforts to establish seamless 5G connections between terrestrial mobile networks and satellite communications networks.
As society becomes more reliant on continuous connectivity, especially with autonomous vehicles like automobiles, ships, and drones, many regions still lack ground-based mobile network coverage, requiring separate devices and accounts for non-terrestrial networks. This new collaboration aims to address this gap.
SoftBank and Intelsat will work together to develop a hybrid communication solution that allows users to stay connected via terrestrial or satellite networks using a single device and account. This solution will be built on standard architectures and interfaces that support roaming between terrestrial cellular networks, expediting the commercial adoption of mobility solutions based on 3GPP 5G standards for non-terrestrial networks.
A key goal is the development of a universal device capable of staying connected regardless of location. For instance, a connected vehicle equipped with this device will switch seamlessly to a satellite network when it moves beyond terrestrial coverage. The solution is expected to be applicable in various sectors, including land mobility, maritime, and disaster recovery.
Design, development, field testing, and commercialization of these hybrid network products will be conducted in phases, aligned with the progress of 3GPP 5G non-terrestrial network standards. Hybrid solutions will allow for the use of existing satellite terminals and newer 5G-based terminals as they become available.
Bruno Fromont, Chief Technology Officer, Intelsat
Intelsat and SoftBank share a pioneering vision of Ubiquitous Networking and seamless interoperability between satellite and terrestrial networks. With recent progress on 5G-based standardization of non-terrestrial networks, we are positioned to accelerate the design and implementation of commercial hybrid services that allow devices to roam between satellite and terrestrial networks.
Hideyuki Tsukuda, Executive Vice President and CTO, SoftBank
By using technology that switches between terrestrial mobile networks and satellite communication networks through roaming, we can integrate the two previously separate networks and utilize satellite communication as an extension of mobile communication. Through this joint research and development, SoftBank and Intelsat will aim to build a Ubiquitous Network where people and things around the world can be connected to communication anytime, anywhere.
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