PLANET 5G VIDEO

Status

Ongoing
Status date

2025-07-15

Objectives

Planet 5G Video addresses the bandwidth constraints and practical limitations of 5G satellite-based direct-to-device communication. The project develops a communication platform based on AnsuR’s mature technologies for photos (ASIGN) and live streaming (ASMIRA), adapted to deliver visual content in scenarios with extremely limited uplink capacity.

The solution supports disaster response, field surveillance, maritime, and infrastructure monitoring by delivering video, clips, and photos from mobile devices via low Earth orbit (LEO) / geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites or weak terrestrial 5G. The platform enhances operational decision-making, collaboration, and sustainability by reducing data, energy, and transmission costs.

Challenges

Planet 5G Video responds to operational realities uncovered by 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN) developments:

Bandwidth is significantly lower than expected in uplink, especially when shared across devices
Mainstream apps (Zoom, WhatsApp) fail under such constraints
First responders and humanitarian users (e.g. INSARAG, UNOSAT) need visual awareness tools that function in these harsh environments

The challenge is to deliver useful video and imagery at data rates below 100 kbps, supporting both continuous situational awareness and selective information pull via standard mobile hardware.

Benefits

Enables field users to operate in zero-coverage or one-bar areas with hybrid 5G-satellite support
Improves situational awareness in time-critical and low-resource scenarios
Provides energy-efficient, mission-focused alternatives to consumer-grade apps
Reduces data transmission costs on satcom by orders of magnitude
Offers a persistent and portable capability on standard smartphones and tablets

Features

Live video streaming at 50–200 kbps using ASMIRA technology
Interactive photo and video clips using ASIGN’s storyboard and region-of-interest approach
Token-based video control for single-stream conferencing
Smartphone and tablet compatible (Android/iOS)
Web-based control and monitoring interface
Optional integration with external modems or satellite terminals
Geotagging, metadata support, and adaptive bitrate handling

System Architecture

The system architecture consists of:

A mobile sender unit running ASMIRA or ASIGN software
A server backend for stream distribution and clip access
A controller interface for initiating streams, assigning tokens, or pulling imagery
Supports multiple concurrent viewers with only one upstream video stream
Designed for hybrid terrestrial–satellite operation, including BGAN, LEO/GEO, and 5G fallback

Plan

ESA Agile project
One-year development duration in 2025
Deliverable: TRL 6 prototype with demonstrator integration

Current status

In progress. Mid-Term Review has been held.

Planet 5G Video is currently in its development phase. System architecture has been defined, core technology modules adapted, and the integration plan is under implementation. The project prepares for a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 demonstration with United Nations partners in disaster response and maritime operations.