Russia wants to deploy hybrid communication networks. They will allow connecting to satellites using ordinary smartphones and using the Internet even where there are no cell towers. The new technology is designed for use in areas where there are no communications yet, Izvestia writes, citing the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF).
Testing of the new technology is scheduled to begin in March. MTS has requested the SCRF to allocate radio frequencies in the ranges of 1950–1965 MHz — for transmitting a signal from the Earth to the satellite and 2140–2155 MHz — for returning it back. The hybrid communication system will operate using 5G technology.
Tele2 is also interested in the new technology. The company wants to expand its coverage area by using it.
You can turn to it where it is available, thereby not being limited to fairly expensive satellite communications and reducing maintenance costs.
Hybrid communication networks are attracting the attention of MegaFon, which noted that an acceptable speed and level of service can only be achieved after deploying satellites on low-orbit spacecraft.
Note that there are two ways to develop cellular-satellite communications. The first is that satellite operators share certain frequencies, and smartphones use them. The second is that the ranges of necessary frequencies are already used by cellular operators.
The latter approach is mentioned in the SCRF documents. Thus, a user who is out of the cellular network coverage area will be able to stay in touch using access to the satellite. For this, the smartphone must support the latest versions of the 5G standard.
However, this technology has its drawbacks. According to Sergey Pekhterev, a shareholder of Ka-Internet, the data transfer rate will be lower than in terrestrial 5G networks.
It can reach a peak of 10–20 Mbps, but on average it is unlikely to exceed 1–2 Mbps per individual subscriber
He emphasized that this technology will not be able to replace high-speed communication networks.
An Izvestia source in the industry is confident that success in deploying the system is possible if there is a cheap method of launching satellites into orbit.
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