Luca Deva, Tyvak International SRL
The program aims to perform an In-Orbit-Demonstration of direct 5G broadband access from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to small aperture terminals using Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) architecture. The LIDE (Live Demonstration) mission, developed within the European Space Agency’s ARTES program, employs a 12U spacecraft with transparent bent-pipe K/Ka band transponders and ground terminals operating a 3GPP Release 17-compliant software radio stack. Link characterization focuses on key performance indicators, including carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N), latency, and throughput, targeting high uplink and downlink rates. Environmental and flight readiness tests are underway, with launch planned for May 2025 to validate NTN-enabled 5G connectivity.