Conventional low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications over long distances may involve multiple hops between satellites and ground-based antennae with a subsequent increase in latency. Providing direct communications between LEO satellites using lasers allows a communications session to be forwarded between satellites minimising the number of satellite to ground station links involved in the session.

The Amazon LEO initiative Project Kuiper has recently completed a test of an optical inter-satellite link (OISL) operating at 100 Gbit/s over a distance of over 600 km. Project Kuiper has the aim of providing a mesh of inter-satellite links providing global low latency communications.

Reducing the number of hops reduces propagation distances with a subsequent reduction in delay. Since optical signals travel faster in space than through glass fibre, the latency of the OISL system should be lower than that of an equivalent terrestrial optical fibre system.

But terrestrial optical links offer even faster transmission speeds. Cienna has recently rolled out a nation-wide optical fibre network in South Korea spanning 1,000 km and capable of transmitting at 600 Gbit/s per wavelength.
The Cienna system achieves these high speeds using coherent detection. Optical add-drop multiplexers allow individual wavelengths to be switched to serve different locations.

PTT offers online courses introducing LEO satellite communications and optical coherent detection.

Telecommunications will continue to undergo significant advancements in the coming year, shaping the way people communicate, connect and conduct business. With telecommunications technology continuing to evolve, here are just a few areas where we will likely see ongoing development:

5G expansion: The deployment of 5G networks will continue to expand, bringing faster speeds, lower latency, and enhanced connectivity. This will enable seamless experiences for consumers, enabling them to stream high-definition content, participate in immersive virtual experiences and embrace IoT (Internet of Things) devices in their daily lives. For businesses, the massive machine to machine capabilities of 5G Standalone will provide new opportunities for streamlining and automating their operations.

Optical fibre in the access network: The provision of fibre to the home and business premises will continue its rapid expansion bringing gigabit speeds to many more users. This in turn will allow telecoms providers to retire their copper access networks leading to reduced costs and increased reliability.

AI and automation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a pivotal role in telecommunications. AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants will be increasingly used with the aim to enhance customer service experiences, offering instant support and personalised interactions. AI-powered network optimisation will also ensure better reliability and efficiency in telecommunications infrastructure.

IoT integration: The integration of IoT devices will continue to see growth, transforming various industries. Smart-homes, connected healthcare devices, and efficient transportation systems will become more prevalent, offering convenience, efficiency, and improved services.

Edge computing: Edge computing will gain traction, enabling data processing closer to the end-user. This will reduce latency, enhance security, and support real-time applications, crucial for emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles and augmented reality.

Telecommuting solutions: The trend of remote work will persist, with home workers needing fast, reliable networks. High-quality video conferencing, collaborative tools, and increasing use of augmented reality will continue to enhance remote work experiences, fostering productivity and collaboration.

PTT will continue to develop up-to-date telecommunications training solutions throughout 2024. With our comprehensive course catalogue, businesses and individuals will continue to benefit from a wide range of training solutions from foundational subjects to advanced topics on the latest technologies in the industry.

Standalone 5G mobile systems offer much more than high speed access to the Internet. 5G private networks offer businesses a wide range of facilities to improve productivity especially when combined with automation of business activities.

One example of the possible applications of a private mobile network is the operation of marine ports.  Ports depends on several interdependent functions which must operate seamlessly to allow the transportation of containers between ships and trucks or trains, and the loading and unloading of those containers. Tracking and recording of container movements is important to avoid misdirection and to comply with border controls. Since those containers may hold valuable cargo, the physical security of the port and the security of communications are also of paramount importance.

The Port of Tyne in the UK is implementing a 5G private network to streamline its operations. Its private mobile network will facilitate the operation of security cameras with automatic vehicle number recognition, and automated container inspection and identification.

In the future the network will also allow autonomous navigation of vehicles to transport cargo, remote crane operations, and control of a fleet of inspection drones.

The port of Barcelona in Spain is also investing in a 5G standalone private network. The 5G mobile service’s low latency will allow the remote control of cranes with the required precision necessary for the loading of containers on ships.

5G has been designed to cope with massive machine to machine communications (mMTC). Therefore, a 5G network has the necessary capacity for the connection of many sensors and devices, facilitating the real-time location of ships, merchandise, and other assets.

You can learn more about 5G services and operation by studying PTT online courses such as Introduction to mobile systems, 4G and 5G radio access networks, and Advanced mobile systems.
Or, for a complete picture, why not take advantage of our special offer to celebrate PTT’s 30 years of learning provision and study all of the PTT courses covering mobile communications.