Astrum Mobile and Qualcomm Technologies recently completed a significant trial of 5G Broadcast technology, directly to smartphones, utilizing the former Worldspace satellite, AsiaStar. This was confirmed by Jonathan Wang, CFO of Astrum Mobile, to Broadband TV News. “Astrum is the owner of the assets now,” said Wang, adding that the satellite is positioned at 105° East.
The October 2024 trial marked a world first, delivering 5G Broadcast services from a geosynchronous satellite to a commercial smartphone. Leveraging AsiaStar’s wide Asia Pacific coverage, the demonstration encompassed various services including live TV and online gaming broadcasts, OTT content delivery, and emergency broadcast services. Testing encompassed diverse usage scenarios, incorporating mobility tests in vehicular and maritime environments, as well as anytime-anywhere service capabilities.
Worldspace, established in 1990 by Noah A. Samara, was a pioneering satellite radio company aiming to deliver digital audio and multimedia content to underserved areas globally. Utilizing geostationary satellites, it offered music, news, and educational programming, bypassing traditional infrastructure limitations. The company launched AfriStar in 1998 and AsiaStar in 2000 using Ariane rockets. While innovative, Worldspace faced challenges, ultimately filing for bankruptcy in 2008. Its assets, including AsiaStar, were subsequently acquired by other operators.