MediaTek announced the completion of the world's first 5G NTN satellite mobile phone connection test: mobile phones can surf the Internet through satellite signals.

CTOnews.com8, March 17 (Xinhua)-- MediaTek has teamed up with Rohde & Schwarz to demonstrate the potential of 5G NTN (also known as non-terrestrial NTN,Non-Terrestrial Networks) technology and announced the completion of the world's first 5G NTN satellite phone laboratory connection test, which allows smartphones to access the Internet directly through satellite signals.

The test was carried out at MediaTek using Rohde & Schwarz test equipment and simulated a real low-earth orbiting satellite cluster at an altitude of 600km, in which each satellite was moving rapidly at a speed of nearly 27000 km per hour. The test chip uses MediaTek's mobile communication chip with 5G NR NTN satellite network function, which is designed in accordance with the spectrum definition function of 3GPP (International Organization for Standards) version 17.

"through this test, MediaTek has successfully demonstrated the ability to connect 5G smartphones to satellite networks, opening the door to the development of 5G satellite networks and bringing ubiquitous connections around the world," said HC Hwang, general manager of MediaTek's wireless communications systems and cooperation department.

CTOnews.com learned that when this technology matures, the future 5G mobile phone can also be used as a satellite phone, and the network uninterrupted connection experience can be achieved through satellite signals. for example, fast and reliable 5G connections can be obtained in places where communication base stations cannot be built. At the same time, the technology may also help eliminate the need for traditional cell phone antennas for 5G NTN smartphones.

MediaTek did not provide further details on the mobile communications chip with 5G NR NTN satellite network functions, but the test is expected to be the basis for the design of a new chip in the future.