Telecommunications firm AST & Science, in partnership with Vodafone, plans to launch the first phase of a space-based commercial mobile communications service in 2023, a move which will boost phone coverage in Africa. SpaceMobile will be the first space-based mobile network to connect directly to 4G and 5G smartphones without any need for specialised hardware. Traditional satellite systems require expensive specialized satellite phones or ground antenna systems.
from Engineering News | Home https://ift.tt/34qN6Dn
