Nokia will develop 4G network for NASA on the moon

Nokia said it was delegated by NASA to build the first cellular communications network on the moon, known as 4G.

The Finnish telecom equipment maker said on Monday that Nokia Bell lab will develop an off-site 4G communication system and plans to develop it on the monthly schedule in the second half of 2022.

NASA is bidding $370 million for 14 companies to provide technical support for the Artemis moon landing programme. The aim is to establish long-term human bases on the moon as a warm-up for missions to Mars.

Nokia released more details about the partnership after NASA announced last week that it would invest $14.1 million in its U.S. departments. NASA has also funded cryogenic fluid management techniques, as well as other control system optimizations for descent and landing capabilities.

Nokia said its network will provide critical communication functions for missions that astronauts need to perform, such as remote-controlled lunar rovers, real-time navigation, and high-definition video streaming.

The package, which includes base stations, antennas, and software, needs to withstand the shocks of launching and landing on the moon, and extreme conditions in space.

Nokia will work with U.S. company Intuitive Machines, for which NASA has chosen the company's small ‘funnel lander.’ The lander can enter lunar craters and making high-resolution measurements of the lunar surface over short distances.

Marcus Weldon, Nokia’s chief technology officer, said: “A reliable, resilient and high-capacity communications network will be the key to support a sustainable human existence on the lunar surface.”