Nokia to Build Moon’s 1st 4G Cell Network for NASA Program

Nokia says NASA has been tapped to build the first cellular communication network on the moon.

The Finnish telecommunications equipment manufacturer has announced Monday that its Nokia Bell Labs division will develop a 4 G communications device to be deployed on a lunar lander to the surface of the moon at the end of 2022, reports UNB.

NASA is awarding $370 million to 14 companies to provide technology for the Artemis Moon Landing Program. The purpose of the program is to establish a long-term human presence on the moon as a warm-up for missions to Mars.

Nokia released further details of its involvement following last week's announcement by NASA that it was giving the U.S. company $14.1 million to the network. The U.S. Space Agency is also funding other developments in cryogenic fluid control, lunar surface innovation, descent and landing capability.

Nokia's network will have vital networking capabilities for tasks that astronauts will need to conduct, such as remote control of lunar rovers, real-time navigation, and high-definition video streaming, the company said.

The equipment includes a base station, antennas and software and is designed to endure harsh launches and lunar landings and extreme space conditions.

Nokia is partnering with U.S. company Intuitive Machines, which NASA chose to build a small “hopper lander” that can access lunar craters and carry out high-resolution surveys of the lunar surface over a short distance.

“Reliable, resilient and high-capacity communications networks will be key to supporting sustainable human presence on the lunar surface,” Nokia’s chief technology officer, Marcus Weldon, said.