Closing dead spots made easy: 5G with the usual bandwidth will soon be available to everyone, not only in poorly accessible rural regions, but also in the middle of the ocean. To this end, ESA launched its "Space for 5G & 6G" project in 2019, for which a consortium, consisting of Airbus Defense and Space, the Fraunhofer Institute and the University of the German Federal Armed Forces in Munich, was created and a feasibility study carried out.
The results are remarkable: the first networks could be set up as early as 2025, albeit at low bandwidths. The full performance of 5G via satellite is expected to be possible by 2032, i.e., in eight years. Because such a system could operate comparatively cost-effectively, a realistic price for private users is just above $6 per month. However, full access with a high data volume and maximum transmission rates is likely to be significantly more expensive.
The study states that further developments and optimizations are needed in order to get such a mobile communications system into orbit. For example, heavier satellites than usual are needed, which would then require more efficient and better propulsion systems to be held in place. Antenna technology also needs to be improved in order to handle the expected data volume. Corresponding research in this area has already been initiated as part of the "Space for 5G & 6G" project. However, these are not expected to pose any real technical hurdles.
If terrestrial and orbital systems are coupled, truly comprehensive mobile communication and internet access will become a reality, initially in developed countries, and even global network coverage may be possible at some point.