Lockheed Martin said yesterday it is joining forces with communications service provider Omnispace to develop a 5G space network for both commercial and government use.
The US defense contractor claims that the 5G global space network will allow users to switch between satellite and ground networks, eliminating the need for multiple devices on different networks. The network will offer connectivity to commercial, corporate, and government devices regardless of the environment or location.
"Omnispace is fully committed to the vision of creating a new global communications platform that enables 5G connectivity directly to mobile devices from space," Ram Viswanathan, Executive Director of Omnispace, said in a statement.
James Taiclet, who took over as CEO of Lockheed in June last year, has previously expressed interest in 5G networks as a means of expanding the capabilities of the armed forces. Last year, he said he foresaw a future in which half to three-quarters of military vehicles would be self-driving, with a robust 5G network at the heart of that fleet.
