China Mobile, the world’s leading telecom carrier, has successfully deployed the world’s premier satellite designed to test 6G architecture. This groundbreaking achievement signals a monumental stride in China’s endeavors to pioneer integrated space and ground communication technologies.
Launched into low-earth orbit on Saturday, this pioneering satellite, alongside another carrying China Mobile’s cutting-edge 5G technology, marks a pivotal moment in the realm of satellite communication. What sets this satellite apart is its utilization of 6G design architecture, a first-of-its-kind feat in the global telecommunications arena.
Crafted through a collaboration between China Mobile and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, the 6G test satellite showcases a distributed autonomous architecture. This cutting-edge system, employing indigenous software and hardware, boasts capabilities such as in-orbit software reconstruction, flexible deployment of core network functions, and automated management. These features serve to elevate the efficiency and reliability of the satellite core network’s in-orbit operations, according to statements from China Mobile.
Positioned at an orbit height of approximately 500 kilometers, these experimental satellites offer distinct advantages over their high-orbit counterparts, such as low latency and high data transfer rates. This attribute is particularly noteworthy compared to high-orbit satellites, which typically orbit at altitudes of 36,000 kilometers.
Seen as a pivotal platform for future integrated space and ground networks, low-earth orbit satellites have the potential to bridge telecom signal coverage gaps in terrestrial mobile networks. Moreover, they hold promise in providing globally accessible, high-bandwidth satellite internet services, according to insights provided by China Mobile.
Looking ahead, China Mobile has outlined plans to leverage these test satellites for conducting in-orbit experiments, thereby propelling the integration and advancement of space-to-ground technology industries. This strategic initiative underscores China Mobile’s commitment to spearheading innovation and shaping the future landscape of telecommunications on a global scale.
