The Russian Foundation for Advanced Research (FAR) has announced the successful completion of Russia’s first tests of a 5G satellite communications system demonstrator. Telecom-Project-5 conducted the tests in May in the Tomsk region.
The flight tests evaluated a 5G-based communication link that allowed simultaneous control of five drones from a flying laboratory. The tests used the TVS-2MS aircraft as an atmospheric satellite analog. They confirmed stable signal reception and transmission between the flying laboratory and ground-based subscriber terminals simulating 5G phones.
FAR also highlighted a unique feature of the Russian 5G onboard equipment: a multi-beam antenna with a phased array that creates multiple subscriber service zones fixed relative to the Earth using digitally controlled beams. According to the Foundation, these tests demonstrate the implementation of full 5G communications technology for Russian low-orbit satellite constellations.