VT iDirect, a company of VT Systems, has joined SATis5, a consortium funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) to promote the cost-effective integration of satellite technology into 5G networks.
Together with the consortium members, VT iDirect’s solutions group, based in Killarney Ireland, will drive technology innovation aimed at opening market opportunities for 5G-based connectivity services. Additionally, VT iDirect will be leading the research and development of an end-to-end system to support multi-orbit geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO) and non-GEO satellite integration as part of the 5G architecture with focus on both enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) Internet of Things (mIoT) usage scenarios.
The SATis5 consortium members, VT iDirect, SES and Fraunhofer FOKUS, recently partnered to showcase a live Satellite-5G test bed at the FOKUS FUSECO Forum 2018 event in Berlin, Germany on November 15-16. The companies showed how satellite connectivity could integrate into a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network architecture, comprising a Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC)-enabled 5G testbed.
The successful test leveraged iDirect modems, satellite hub and 3GPP-enabled core network, with SES’s geostationary satellite Astra 2F. The Consortium also showcased efficient edge delivery and network slicing of eMBB and mMTC over satellite building upon the Fraunhofer FOKUS’ Open5G Core network as a Proof-of-Concept for their integration into a full 5G architecture.
Executive Comment
Richard Lord, VP, Engineering, Strategic Initiatives, VT iDirect, said that the goal of SATis5 is to foster industry collaboration in using satellite technology for the future 5G connected world. SATis5 is helping to drive major milestones and deliverables led by key innovators across the satellite and telecom industries. This is critically important work that will help service providers extend their global reach, penetrate significant new markets, and shape the future of how the world connects.
