Moon Is Going To Get 4G network

We regularly see the headlines of science that are filled with the stories of new discoveries on Mars, and observations of Jupiter. There are many new explorations of the far of objects in the space where humankind will probably get to visit.  However, earth and moon rarely get such kind of attention. There have been various missions in the space that has caught the attention of people in the world.

Among all those missions, the one that entices us the most is moon's small-scale 4G network. The European telecom Vodafone, Audi, and Nokia, in an upcoming lunar mission, will feature pairs of rovers that are designed by the Audi, which rely on the 4G network to communicate each other. The initiative will also allow streaming HD videos from the surface of moon surface via a link that will feed data to earth. It will be the first terrestrial mobile network installed outside the earth.

Vodafone performed the testing and indicated that the base station should be able to broadcast 4G on 1800 MHz frequency band and send back the HD video feed of the moon’s surface. The videos will be broadcasted to the global audience with the help of deep space link which gets connected to the scientist's server in the Mission Control Center of Berlin.

To install a system that comprises of moons first 4G network joining two lunar Quattro rovers (Audi to the base station in Autonomous Landing and Navigation Module (ALINA)), the Vodafone experiences in this network field will be used. “Nokia, through Nokia Bell Labs will build a space-grade Ultra compact network that will be the lightest ever developed-weighing less than one kilo, just like a sugar bag,” stated Nokia.

The small sized network will link the rovers wirelessly to the central base stations and it will also facilitate the streaming of live videos that will be linked down to our planet. However, the connection between the network and earth will not be of 4G quality but will be a link between the moon and the earth that enables the transfer of data over the long distances.

So, is this a real mission or some publicity stunt? The answer is quite complicated. The companies that are involved in this mission are happy to tout their presence, but using 4G on the moon really makes some sense. Sending analog radio signals eats up a good amount of energy than 4G does, therefore the whole system should be designed in such a manner that makes it more efficient than the alternatives. For it to work as intended, we will have to wait and see for ourselves.