United States: Nokia partners with Axiom Space for 4G-enabled spacesuits

Nokia has partnered with Axiom Space to equip the company's next-generation spacesuits with advanced 4G/LTE communications to be used by astronauts on Axiom's Artemis III lunar mission. This partnership will see the two companies incorporate high-speed cellular-network capabilities in the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), supporting HD video, telemetry data, and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. 
 

"Adding high-speed 4G/LTE network capability on the Moon will serve as a vital bridge linking astronauts to Earth, facilitating crucial data exchange, and enabling high-definition video communication over long distances," said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space executive vice president of extravehicular activity.

Thierry E. Klein, president of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia said: “Just as astronauts will need life support, shelter, and food, they will need advanced networks to communicate with each other and go about their crucial work. We are taking advantage of the same standards-based technologies that connect billions of devices on Earth every day, while bringing new innovation and technologies to bear on the specific challenges encountered in space."