The company is developing commercial 5G NTN connectivity solutions that government and military users can leverage.
Washington DC-based global hybrid network operator, Omnispace, has announced the successful demonstration of 5G satellite capability with the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), along with the Navy and Marine Corps. Omnispace was selected by NSIN in 2020 to pilot its technology in connection with Verizon’s new 5G Living Lab.
Omnispace conducted its military 5G-via-satellite capability test in a LinQuest lab facility in Northern Virginia. The company said it was able to connect a number of commercial-off-the-shelf 5G devices with voice and data services via an emulated 5G radio access network (RAN) involving Omnispaces on-orbit satellite.
Speaking about the partnership, Campbell Marshall, Vice President, Government and International Markets, Omnispace LLC, said: “Omnispace is honoured to have been selected to work with the US Navy and Marines to demonstrate 5G capability from space. The development of standards-based 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology powered by Omnispace’s S-band spectrum will allow small tactical 5G devices to communicate directly and seamlessly with 5G-capable satellites and terrestrial networks, giving our warfighters ubiquitous global connectivity and true comms-on-the-move.”
Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Newell, Director, SoCal Tech Bridge, Naval X, a driving force behind some of the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) 5G initiatives, added: “5G will be a critical technology for our military operations in the very near future, and those operations aren’t limited to dense urban environments where most 5G infrastructure is being deployed. Truly global, mobile 5G connectivity in aero, maritime and remote areas will be essential across a broad spectrum of our government and military operations.”
Omnispace is continuing the development of a global hybrid 5G communications network based on 3GPP standards, which will ensure the security and interoperability of devices all over the world for a wide array of enterprise and government customers.
The company plans to make its direct-to-satellite 5G NTN connectivity solutions available through its ‘one global network,’ which will utilise the company’s existing 2 GHz priority spectrum rights. Initial elements of the Omnispace network will enter into service in 2022.
