The 5G RuralDorset project, which is testing various 5G based mobile voice and broadband technologies alongside existing fibre cables, claims to have achieved a “world-first” by demonstrating satellite backhaul from a 5G Standalone network (i.e. using satellite to keep the connection live when terrestrial mobile fails).
The work reflects part of the Connected Coast project within the Dorset Council-led 5GRD, which is also being supported by Excelerate Technology, Satellite Applications Catapult and Neutral Networks. A few months earlier, the same programme also demonstrated the first use of an in-field 700MHz (mobile spectrum band) based Standalone (SA) private 5G network to serve rural parts of the Jurassic Coast (here).
However, even with the 700MHz band, maintaining a strong mobile connection can still be difficult for the emergency services around remote rural and coastal areas, and thus the same project has been busy trying to develop a satellite backhaul solution to seamlessly plug such gaps in signal coverage.
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As a result, two sites in Portland (Dorset) now benefit from both terrestrial and satellite based 5G links. If the terrestrial service is out of range, the satellite steps in, meaning users are provided with a resilient and robust connection. “This is the only known instance of 5G satellite backhaul in the world,” boasts the announcement, although the separate Satellite and Terrestrial Network for 5G (SaT5G) project did cover a similar field (here).
Panos Mystridis, 5G Network Software Engineer at the Catapult, said:
“During this demonstration, we have proved that satellites can be integrated successfully within the 5G ecosystem. By fine tuning the various 5G components the specificities of the satellite links have been addressed, and the Portland radio sites remain connected and continue providing 5G services to end-user devices.
The setup in Dorset is a great starting point for researching more complex and advanced scenarios over the use of satellite networks. Not only is this good for understanding backhaul link characteristics, but it also enables us to look ahead for the next generation of direct communication between satellite and 5G end user devices.”
We should point out that BT’s recent deal (here) to harness OneWeb’s global network of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites also has backhaul on its mind.
Did SATis5 ever get any birds launched?
It was designed to work with existing satellites.
So now we put together 5000 telephone boxes, sat backhaul and 5G any what do you get??