Japanese Consortium Achieves
World's First Demonstration
of 5G Communication from Altitude of 4km Using 38GHz
Band
-- Major Step Toward Realization of
5G Communication from Stratosphere --
May 28, 2024
SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, NTT
DOCOMO, INC., the National Institute of Information and
Communications Technology (NICT) ,and Panasonic Holdings
Corporation (Panasonic HD) y have successfully conducted
a 5G communication verification test in the 38GHz band1
from an altitude of approximately 4km using a small
Cessna aircraft operated by Kyoritsu Air Survey Co.,
Ltd. simulating the eventual use of High-Altitude
Platform Stations (HAPS) 2. The demonstration was the
first of its kind in the world.
In this groundbreaking trial to
demonstrate the practical application of 5G feeder link3
and backhaul line4 for HAPS, a Cessna aircraft was
equipped with newly developed communication equipment
(“Cessna onboard station”) that is expected to be
deployed eventually in HAPS. Additionally, a lens-type
antenna with an auto-tracking function was used as the
HAPS ground station (“ground station”).
The trial established an aerial
relay backhaul line between the Cessna aircraft, flying
at altitude of approximately 4km, and three ground
stations, using the 5G New Radio (NR) standard5 with
38GHz band radio waves, which is a novel approach for
terrestrial 5G networks. The achievement of multiple
backhaul line consisting of aerial relays using the 5G
NR standard with 38GHz band radio waves was a world
first in telecommunication technology6.
![](ntt3.png)
Verification test
With 5G evolution underway and 6G
implementation on the horizon, various efforts are being
made to expand coverage areas. Non-Terrestrial Networks
(NTN)7 using HAPS is a promising technology for such
expansions, so the results from this demonstration will
help accelerate the practical application of HAPS
networks.
The four organizations involved in
this project are committed to continuing their joint
efforts, aiming at the early delivery of 5G from the
stratosphere via an NTN using HAPS.
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