Thales Alenia Space & Capgemini Lead 5G NTN D2D Demo for CNES
A(nother) France 2030-backed project is aiming to bring seamless 5G coverage to every corner of the globe, including those where terrestrial networks can’t reach.
Thales Alenia Space (a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo) is leading U DESERVE 5G, a demonstration of direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity in partnership with Capgemini, Thales, CNES, and a lineup of industry heavyweights including Orange, SES, Qualcomm, and Loft Orbital.
The project will launch a low-Earth orbit demonstrator satellite to test how smoothly devices can switch between terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G networks. The satellite payload, equipped with an active antenna, will allow direct voice and data links with a mobile test device, skipping the need for ground stations.
Beyond proving global, uninterrupted connectivity, the trials will also explore IoT use cases and crisis-resilient services, with full compatibility for the latest 3GPP Release 17 standards.