One Small Satellite Step For UbiquitiLink, One Giant Leap For Cell Coverage For All Mankind…
By Bill D’Zio
August 8, 2019
A photo from Feb 2019 of the Cygnus spacecraft as it is leaving the ISS with UbiquitiLink’s payload attached, courtesy of ISS Astronauts.
In August 2019, UbiquitiLink is stepping one foot closer to its goal, cell coverage for all.
UbiquitiLink is a start-up company focused on filling a hole in cell phone coverage. UbiquitiLink hitched a ride on the Cygnus spacecraft.
The Cygnus spacecraft delivered several tons of supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station, and has been docked since then. With the primary mission complete, several important secondary mission will kickoff. Over the following days, Cygnus will maneuver to a safe distance away from station. If all goes according to plan, Cygnus will begin deploying a series of CubeSats.
Northrop Grumman launched its Cygnus cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17. The Antares rocket carrying Cygnus CRS-11 Liftoff was from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the state’s Eastern Shore. This is the final Cygnus mission under the initial Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-1 contract with NASA. Northrop Grumman will continue to service the ISS with a CRS-2 contract begins with a cargo launch in the fall 2019.
UbiquitiLink satellite cell tower – one small Sat step closer to cell coverage for all mankind
In August 2019, UbiquitiLink is stepping one foot closer to its goal, cell coverage for all, using what the cell phone you already have.
UbiquitiLink is a start-up company focused on filling a hole in cell phone coverage. According to UbiquitiLink’s website:
The 5.2 billion people with mobile phones often have no service because they are outside the range of a cell tower.
Another 2.5 billion people, many in remote areas without cellular networks, don’t even have a mobile phone.
When disaster strikes, first responders are frequently hampered by inoperable terrestrial communications.
In a few years, UbiquitiLink wants to provide cell coverage anywhere there is satellite coverage. Mobile phones connected to terrestrial towers generally have a range limited to around 35 kilometers if the line-of-sight is not interrupted by mountains, hills, buildings, or foliage. UbiquitiLink claims the signal can travel further, but the reception range is artificially limited by the highly accurate time frames of the mobile phone protocol.
UbiquitiLink has several patents regarding a technology such as Method and apparatus for handling communications between spacecraft operating in an orbital environment and terrestrial telecommunications devices that use terrestrial base station communications USPTO Application #20180254825 and Simplified inter-satellite link communications using orbital plane crossing to optimize inter-satellite data transfers USPTO Application #20180254824
The two patents make sense. The first patent focuses on handling communications with mobile stations in environments that exceed mobile station design capabilities, such as rural areas or hilly areas. By including the ability to utilize existing cell phone equipment without requiring modifications to the mobile stations will make adoption of the technology much easier. The technology allows the phones to be serviced by satellites orbiting at 500 kilometers overhead.
Of interest, the patent didn’t limit its application to Earth, so the approach could be utilized again in orbit around the Moon, Mars. or other bodies. “One such environment is in Earth orbit.”
The second patent focuses on cross satellite communication, which can be challenging. Imagine trying to play catch. Just about everyone can do it, but it becomes more difficult when you are moving. Imagine playing catch and throwing a ball between two cars both driving 60 miles but going in different directions.
In 2021, UbiquitiLink plans to have between 24 and 36 satellites in orbit. With that many satellites, users can expect coverage every hour, anywhere between 55 degrees north and south latitudes. If things go well, the company’s planned constellation of several thousand satellites by 2023 would allow for continuous coverage. In other words, whether stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert without water, the stuck in a tree in Amazon jungle, or the adrift in a life boat in Pacific Ocean, you can call home and ask for help.
UbiquitiLink has inked trial partnerships with 33 companies, including 24 mobile network operators representing approximately 1.5 billion mobile phone subscribers.
UbiquitiLink is trending in the right direction. According to UiquitiLink, their second payload, or cell tower in space, will be attached to Cygnus and will be begin testing on August 9th. Over the next several months, UiquitiLink will demonstrate the ability to connect to standard, unmodified phones using both GSM (2G) and LTE (4G). The company is continuing to become funded and recently received $5.2 million in July of 2019, bringing its total funding to $12 million. A successful demonstration will pave the way for the rest of the project. There is still opportunity for investors to connect with UiquitiLink.
“We have created a whole new category of communications services of ‘satellite direct to phone’ services. We complement, and supplement traditional satellite services, which provide ‘cellular backhaul’ and ‘WiFi backhaul’. Companies like OneWeb or SpaceX connect to WiFi devices on the roof of your home — however when you walk outside of your home, you will lose connection. You will stay connected everywhere else with UbiquitiLink.”
Geographically Limited terrestrial base stations provide local coverage. Very expensive and separate satellite phone and subscription required for global coverage Credit: ubiquitilink.com
A proposed solution by UbiquitiLink where Subscribers receive coverage from cell towers when they have it and satellite coverage when they need it. No new hardware required as subscribers can use their existing phone Credit: ubiquitilink.com
About The Author
Bill D'Zio
Co-Founder at WestEastSpace.com
Bill founded WestEastSpace.com after returning to China in 2019 to be supportive of his wife's career. Moving to China meant leaving the US rocket/launch industry behind, as USA and China don't see eye to eye on cooperation in space. Bill has an engineering degree and is an experienced leader of international cross-functional teams with experience in evaluating, optimizing and awarding sub-contracts for complex systems. Bill has worked with ASME Components, Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) for use in launch vehicles, satellites, aerospace nuclear, and industrial applications.
Bill provides consulting services for engineering, supply chain, and project management.
Very interested … if UbiquitiLink is a startup company focused on filling holes in cell phone coverage ..
Interesting, thanks. Am posting to Linked In with a number of legal & policy issues this launch – and the company’s services raise.