Intelsat, SoftBank Plan Ubiquitous Satellite Connectivity Network

Although roaming between mobile cellular networks is common today when people travel, that is not the case between satellite and terrestrial networks. That could change as increased use of satellite services for connectivity becomes possible through new alliances between telecommunications companies and satellite operators.

For example, on Sept. 16 telecommunications company SoftBank and satellite-based communications company Intelsat announced they would create a “ubiquitous network” of “seamless” 5G terrestrial mobile and satellite communications networks. The ubiquitous network will enable “handoffs” between satellite and terrestrial 5G cores, according to Ken Takagi, director of business development at Intelsat.

Subscription plans will include connectivity to roam both satellite networks and terrestrial networks.

“Authentication of the terminals and exchange of usage and billing data will happen behind the scenes through interactivity between the satellite and terrestrial 5G cores,” Takagi says.

Hybrid Network Melds Satellite and Terrestrial Mobile Services

Intelsat and SoftBank will design, develop, field-test, and bring hybrid network products to commercial markets in phases.

"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,” Hideyuki Tsukuda, executive vice president and CTO of SoftBank, said in a statement. “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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With many parts of the world still without ground-based mobile network coverage, the seamless connectivity of the ubiquitous network could provide access to communications in remote, unconnected areas and bridge the digital divide, according to Peter Chahal, research director for worldwide telecommunications services and strategies at IDC.

“The opportunity to connect the unconnected and bridge the digital divide is potentially vast, as many areas around the world are still without ground-based mobile network coverage and require non-terrestrial networks where the deployment of fixed-line broadband or terrestrial wireless is not economically viable," Chahal told Network Computing via email.

Increased Use of Satellite Services for Connectivity

Intelsat brings expertise in non-terrestrial networking, particularly with regards to multi-orbit networking and developing solutions that will conform with the new 5G non-terrestrial network standards,” Takagi says. “SoftBank brings its own non-terrestrial know-how as well as know-how as a terrestrial cellular operator.”

Chahal notes that Intelsat’s multi-orbit strategy will be critical to delivering global satellite connectivity. That includes low-Earth orbit (LEO), medium-Earth orbit (MEO), and geosynchronous satellites as part of an effort to deliver global connectivity.

Increased use of connectivity from satellite services could get a boost from the FCC streamlining the application process for these services. In addition, the partnership between Intelsat and SoftBank will lead to more long-term alliances to support combining satellite operators' LEO constellations with telcos' mobile and fixed networks, Chahal explains.

Increased interoperability of satellite and cellular networks is part of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardization effort, which unites seven telecommunications standard development organizations. These standards include Release 17 5G NTN, which calls for 5G satellite service in underserved areas, and Release 18 5G Advanced, which covers further integration of 5G with satellite and connectivity for IoT devices.

The seamless connectivity will expand services beyond cell-to-satellite and messaging to incorporate high-speed broadband Internet, 4G/LTE, and 5G backhaul as well as Internet of Things (IoT) services in remote and rural areas, Chahal says.

Few satellite network operators in the IoT, device-to-device, and machine-to-machine (M2M) space have been able to succeed due to the cost of building and launching a satellite network, according to Alastair Macleod, CEO of remote connectivity provider Ground Control.

Although integrations between satellite and terrestrial networks are uncommon, some alliances have recently started work in this area. That includes T-Mobile and SpaceX (Starlink) in August 2022, Chahal notes. The two companies have worked on developing satellite-to-smartphone connectivity by “pairing the Starlink satellite constellation in LEO with T-Mobile’s wireless network,” Chahal says.

Other examples include Apple partnering with Globalstar on satellite connectivity for its iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models in November 2022, Chahal notes. That partnership “provides emergency SOS satellite service in remote areas without regular cell phone coverage,” he says.

In another example, Huawei has partnered with BeiDou on 5G cellular-to-satellite and SoS services.

The Future of Seamless Satellite Connectivity

Automobiles, ships, and drones offer autonomous mobility, but ground-based mobile network coverage is still missing in many areas. This seamless connectivity could be effective in the maritime industry as well as disaster recovery and response. Reliable broadband activity could provide mission-critical information and help avoid unnecessary accidents while saving lives, Takagi says.

Satellite connectivity could also appear in connected cars, agriculture, construction, logistics, fleet management, maritime and government and military applications, according to Takagi.

Meanwhile, increased satellite connectivity could help war zones restore connectivity, with most of international Internet traffic occurring over subsea cable networks. Although satellite data transmission typically brings latency issues, that is not the case with LEO and MEO connectivity.

For real-world applications to take off, roaming agreements will be key, according to Chahal.

“High performance roaming capability and roaming agreements with global telcos will be a key element for the ubiquitous network to be successful,” Chahal says. In addition, satellite connectivity must still evolve to support ultrareliable and low-latency communications, he adds.

"Firstly, organizations should determine the optimal applications for low-orbit connectivity latency and reliability, which are key considerations, as satellite connectivity still needs to evolve to support ultrareliable and low-latency communications," Chahal says.