Japanese Consortium Achieves World’s First Demonstrationof 5G Communication from Altitude of 4km Utilizing 38GHz Band— Main Step Towards Realization of 5G Communication from Stratosphere

 SKY Good JSAT Company, NTT DOCOMO, INC., the Nationwide Institute of Info and Communications Know-how (NICT) ,and Panasonic Holdings Company (Panasonic HD) collectively introduced as we speak that they’ve efficiently performed a 5G communication verification take a look at within the 38GHz band^*1 from an altitude of roughly 4km utilizing a small Cessna plane operated by Kyoritsu Air Survey Co., Ltd. simulating the eventual use of Excessive-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS)^*2. The demonstration was the primary of its variety on this planet.

On this groundbreaking trial to show the sensible utility of 5G feeder hyperlink^*3 and backhaul line^*4 for HAPS, a Cessna plane was geared up with newly developed communication tools (“Cessna onboard station”) that’s anticipated to be deployed finally in HAPS. Moreover, a lens-type antenna with an auto-tracking operate was used because the HAPS floor station (“floor station”).

The trial established an aerial relay backhaul line between the Cessna plane, flying at altitude of roughly 4km, and three floor stations, utilizing the 5G New Radio (NR) normal^*5 with 38GHz band radio waves, which is a novel strategy for terrestrial 5G networks. The achievement of a number of backhaul line consisting of aerial relays utilizing the 5G NR normal with 38GHz band radio waves was a world first in telecommunication expertise^*6.

With 5G evolution underway and 6G implementation on the horizon, varied efforts are being made to increase protection areas. Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)^*7 utilizing HAPS is a promising expertise for such expansions, so the outcomes from this demonstration will assist speed up the sensible utility of HAPS networks.

The 4 organizations concerned on this challenge are dedicated to persevering with their joint efforts, aiming on the early supply of 5G from the stratosphere by way of an NTN utilizing HAPS.

The demonstration is a part of a challenge targeted on wi-fi communication techniques utilizing HAPS led by Japan’s Ministry of Inner Affairs and Communications^*8.

1. 38.0-39.5GHz frequency band was designated for HAPS mounted communication at 2019 World Radiocommunication Convention.
2. Radio station onboard unmanned plane able to flying within the stratosphere as much as a number of months and geared up with repeaters, and so on. to cowl a 100-200km diameter for the skies, seas and unpopulated/mountainous areas the place protection has been economically unfeasible.
3. Relay communications between HAPS and floor station.
4. Mounted line that helps high-speed, high-capacity transmission between wi-fi base stations and core cellular community. The Core cellular community acts as a command middle, managing authentication, authorization, and communication classes (Management Aircraft). It additionally transfers knowledge between the applying server outdoors the core community and the terminal (Person Aircraft).
5. New 5G wi-fi entry expertise, developed by 3GPP challenge wherein varied nationwide standardization our bodies are working to coordinate mobile-communication specs.
6. As of April 3, 2024, in accordance with analysis performed by Panasonic HD.
7. A system that makes use of quite a lot of communication platforms, equivalent to satellites, HAPS, drones, and so on., to determine a multi-layered connection throughout totally different spatial dimensions, together with sea, air, and area, extending past terrestrial boundaries.
8. Core plan of this R&D: https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/eng/pressrelease/2020/6/15_1.html

About SKY Good JSAT

SKY Good JSAT is Asia’s largest satellite tv for pc operator with a fleet of 17 satellites, and Japan’s solely supplier of each Multi-channel Pay TV broadcasting and satellite tv for pc communications companies. SKY Good JSAT delivers a broad vary of leisure by means of the “SKY PerfecTV!” platform, essentially the most intensive in Japan with over 2 million subscribers. SKY Good JSAT’s satellite tv for pc communications companies, which cowl Asia, Indian Ocean, Center East, Pacific Ocean and North America, play an important function in supporting communications infrastructures for cellular backhaul, authorities, aviation, maritime, oil & gasoline and catastrophe restoration.
For extra data, go to our company web site (https://www.skyperfectjsat.area/en) and House Enterprise web site (https://www.skyperfectjsat.area/jsat/en/).

About NTT DOCOMO

NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s main cellular operator with over 89 million subscriptions, is likely one of the world’s foremost contributors to 3G, 4G and 5G cellular community applied sciences. Past core communications companies, DOCOMO is difficult new frontiers in collaboration with a rising variety of entities (“+d” companions), creating thrilling and handy value-added companies that change the way in which folks dwell and work. Below a medium-term plan towards 2020 and past, DOCOMO is pioneering a modern 5G community to facilitate revolutionary companies that may amaze and encourage prospects past their expectations.
https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/

About NICT

The Nationwide Institute of Info and Communications Know-how (NICT) is Japan’s sole Nationwide Analysis and Growth Company specializing within the discipline of data and communications expertise and is charged with selling the ICT sector in addition to analysis and growth in ICT, which drives financial development and creates an prosperous, secure and safe society.
For extra data, go to https://www.nict.go.jp/en/

Concerning the Panasonic Group

Based in 1918, and as we speak a worldwide chief in growing revolutionary applied sciences and options for wide-ranging functions within the client electronics, housing, automotive, business, communications, and vitality sectors worldwide, the Panasonic Group switched to an working firm system on April 1, 2022 with Panasonic Holdings Company serving as a holding firm and eight firms positioned beneath its umbrella. The Group reported consolidated web gross sales of 8,496.4 billion yen for the yr ended March 31, 2024. To be taught extra in regards to the Panasonic Group, please go to: https://holdings.panasonic/international/

Appendix 1

1. Check particulars

• The trial was performed utilizing the next setup:
  1. A 38GHz band 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) base station and core community gadget, developed for set up in HAPS have been mounted in a Cessna plane.
  2. Lens-type antenna with an automated monitoring operate, designed to transmit and obtain 38GHz band radio waves with excessive achieve and a pointy beam, was used as the bottom station.
  3. Set up a number of knowledge hyperlinks utilizing the 5G New Radio (NR) normal between the plane and three floor stations.

By concurrently connecting and relaying any two floor stations that shaped the backhaul line by way of the Cessna onboard station, it was attainable to determine an information hyperlink between the 2 floor stations: one linked to the 5G terrestrial community (floor stations 1 & 2) and the opposite linked to the terrestrial base station speaking with the terminal (floor station 3). This setup demonstrated the backhaul line of the 5G terrestrial community by way of an aerial relay (dotted line in determine).

By making use of this expertise to the backhaul line between the bottom station speaking with the terminal and the end-to-end communication core community^*1, end-to-end communication to the person terminal was achieved. As well as, handover^*2 between the aerial relay backhaul base station (base station 1) and the terrestrial backhaul base station (base station 2) was demonstrated.

2. Key achievements

• Established an aerial relay backhaul hyperlink utilizing the 5G NR normal within the 38GHz band.
• Carried out a handover between the terrestrial backhaul base station and the aerial relay backhaul base station.

To confirm these two factors, the end-to-end throughput between core communication community and the communication terminal was measured. Measurements have been taken in each instructions: from the end-to-end communication core community to the communication terminal (downlink) and from the terminal to the end-to-end communication core community (uplink).

The graph under illustrates the time variation of downlink throughput. In part 1, the aerial relay backhaul line was established, permitting knowledge transmission from the end-to-end communication core community to the terminal. In part 2, knowledge was transmitted over the terrestrial backhaul line. When transitioning from part 1 to part 2, the handover was carried out with out interruption of knowledge communication. Moreover, when transitioning to part 3, which was reconnected to the aerial relay backhaul, the handover was carried out with none interruption in knowledge communication. These outcomes met the preliminary verification goal. It is usually price noting that the above verification was additionally profitable within the uplink.

3. Technical developments

The trial targeted on particular technical developments by replicating the flight situations of HAPS within the stratosphere, some 20km above floor.

Monitoring expertise of antennas and communication tools for HAPS

When utilizing a fixed-wing mannequin for HAPS, it’s important for the HAPS-mounted antenna to have exact management of the beam course and to attenuate frequency fluctuations because of the Doppler impact, particularly when speaking at excessive frequencies within the millimeter-wave band.

Inside this R&D framework, a expertise for 5G NR communication was efficiently demonstrated utilizing the HAPS-mounted antenna and communication tools in a flight setting, precisely directing the 38GHz band beam to 3 floor stations. This expertise is adaptable to numerous flight situations, adjusting to the plane’s angle, pace, course, place, and altitude because it turns.

Monitoring expertise of floor station antenna and communication tools

As a result of results of stratospheric winds and ranging climate situations, HAPS should regularly change its trajectory. The event of high-precision monitoring expertise is important for floor station antennas and communication tools to precisely and constantly observe the HAPS with the extraordinarily slim and sharp 38GHz band antenna beam. The bottom station antenna used within the trial had a minimal beamwidth of 0.8 diploma, enabling a monitoring technique that constantly tracked the Cessna plane inside this angular vary.

Line switching and management expertise for HAPS community

To combine HAPS into 5G and 6G cellular networks, versatile line switching, and management shall be crucial between the present terrestrial community and the HAPS-based stratospheric community. The trial verified the handover between the terrestrial backhaul base station and the aerial relay backhaul base station utilizing the 5G NR normal within the 38GHz band. The trial achieved seamless handover with no interruption in knowledge transmission when the person tools moved throughout the protection areas of each base stations. This success demonstrated the feasibility of versatile hyperlink management expertise that coordinates between the terrestrial community and the HAPS community.

Rain attenuation compensation algorithm in radio wave propagation path

Radio waves within the 38GHz band will be considerably weakened by rain, requiring sensible countermeasures equivalent to website variety^*3. The trial efficiently examined an algorithm that routinely compensates for rain-induced attenuation, equivalent to website variety, in sync with the 5G community, making changes in accordance with modifications in hyperlink high quality brought on by rain.

It was confirmed that every one preliminary growth targets have been met. As well as, with a view to the long run deployment of HAPS, the trial supplied measurement knowledge that may help the sensible utility and standardization of HAPS and determine areas for additional technical growth and efficiency enhancement. Sooner or later, the 4 companions plan to make use of these outcomes to understand 5G communication companies from the stratosphere by way of HAPS, thus contributing to the belief of NTN.

1. Your complete path connecting two speaking events, or each ends of that path. Also referred to as E2E.
2. Know-how that switches base stations whereas sustaining communication when a terminal strikes to a different cell.
3. Know-how that switches between a number of floor stations by receiving a wi-fi sign by means of two or extra antennas.

Appendix 2

Overview of R&D

Function

The aim of this R&D is to develop a HAPS system that may present well timed, high-speed, and high-capacity communication traces to satisfy the demand for backhaul traces to base stations in varied functions anticipated within the period of 5G Evolution & 6G, and in addition for catastrophe response and restoration, utilizing the broadband frequency of the millimeter wave band (Q/V band; 36.0–42.5GHz band centered on 38.0–39.5GHz) and HAPS. One other goal is to enhance the frequency utilization effectivity^*1 of HAPS communication utilizing the millimeter-wave band and to determine elemental applied sciences for the sensible utility of HAPS techniques.

Contents

To realize the above, the event targets embrace a millimeter-wave communication gadget to be mounted on a HAPS and a corresponding floor station. Even when the HAPS place and flight angle change, wi-fi communication have to be ensured by controlling the course of radio wave transmission whereas decreasing interference from radio waves from different terrestrial techniques. As well as, applied sciences equivalent to switching between a number of floor stations (website variety) shall be used to make sure connectivity equal to that of cell phone backhaul traces utilizing the traditional stationary satellite tv for pc system in Japan, even within the millimeter-wave band the place the impact of rain attenuation will be important.

The goal for frequency utilization effectivity is to enhance the throughput from round 3 bits/image to 4 bits/image, or greater than 1.1 instances the throughput of geostationary satellite tv for pc techniques.

This R&D is being performed as a part of the Ministry of Inner Affairs and Communications’ ‘Analysis and Growth for the Enlargement of Radio Wave Assets (JPJ000254).

1. Larger pace and better capability communication leads to the transmission of extra bits inside a unit of frequency or time.