LIDE (original) (raw)

LIDE [Tyvak]

LIDE (Direct Access Live Demonstration) is a 12U CubeSat mission demonstrating direct 5G broadband access from low Earth orbit (LEO) to small aperture user terminals. Conducted under the ESA ARTES 5G program, the mission validates technologies critical to the development of future 5G and 6G satellite communication infrastructure.

The primary objective of the LIDE mission is to serve as a proof-of-concept for direct bidirectional 5G connectivity via satellite. It is part of the European roadmap toward advanced non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and aims to surpass the throughput performance of earlier demonstration missions. LIDE tests direct LEO-to-terminal communication in accordance with the 3GPP Release 17 standard for NTNs, thereby supporting development toward ubiquitous 5G/6G broadband services. Initial ground tests are carried out in Italy, with follow-on testing at ESA�s ESTEC facility in the Netherlands.

The mission uses a 12U CubeSat testbed developed by Tyvak International, based on the Renegade standard platform. The spacecraft integrates bent-pipe K/Ka-band transponders provided by PICOSATS, and patch array antennas for high-frequency signal transmission. The mission includes two dedicated ground segments: a gateway and an end-user terminal, both designed to evaluate key performance indicators such as carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N), latency, and throughput.

LIDE targets operational performance with a minimum data rate of 1 Mbps in the uplink and 10 Mbps in the downlink. The satellite�s payload supports real-time K/Ka-band bidirectional communication. Ground terminals utilize software-defined radio stacks compatible with 3GPP NTN specifications, enabling flexible testing of various communication scenarios and traffic profiles. The in-orbit campaign assesses signal quality and network responsiveness to characterize the feasibility of future LEO broadband architectures.