Developing Lunar 3GPP Mobile Network Technologies for Moon Exploration
GITAI USA Inc.
KDDI Corporation
March 6,2024
-- December 7, 2023 - GITAI USA Inc. (GITAI) and KDDI Corporation (KDDI) successfully demonstrated to attach a 3GPP mobile network antenna using GITAIs Lunar Rover and Inchworm Robots. Both companies have newly prototyped a lunar communication tower and antenna optimized for robotic construction. The antenna was transported to the tower by the Rover, and then it was successfully attached at the apex of the tower by the Inchworm Robots, followed by cable connections to provide power.
If you have difficulty to view the movie, please click the link below.
<
The demonstration video of 3GPP mobile antenna attachment using GITAIs multiple robots [
1]>
As lunar exploration such as the Artemis Program [
2] is emerging, there is a growing demand for high-speed, high-capacity communication services to provide high-quality video transmission from astronauts and rovers on the Moon. However, developing 3GPP mobile network on the Moon by astronauts could be challenging due to the harsh environment, so an autonomous construction by robots would be necessary. To address these challenges, GITAI, the worlds leading space robotics startup with its successful tech-demo on the International Space Station (ISS), and KDDI with insights into 3GPP mobile network construction, jointly worked to develop an antenna designed for robotic construction and demonstrated in an environment simulating the lunar surface.
About the Demonstration Overview
GITAIs Lunar Rover transported the antenna to a 5-meter communication tower, constructed by GITAIs Robots on a desert simulating the lunar surface.
GITAIs 3 x Inchworm Robots manipulated the antenna to the apex of the tower. Power cables were connected with the confirmation of energization.
The same combination of the robots detached the antenna and disassembled the tower.
Since 2022, KDDI has been engaged in feasibility studies regarding lunar navigation and communications with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA [
3]. With the successful result of this demo and our knowledge of terrestrial mobile wireless network infrastructure construction and operation to provide high-quality communication services, we are aiming to contribute to space agencies and private companies that are leading to open a new era for humanity.
KDDI has made an investment in GITAI through KDDI Open Innovation Fund 3 (operated by Global Brain Corporation), which aims to incubate new business co-creations with promising venture startups [
4]. KDDI will support the business growth of GITAI utilizing KDDI assets and jointly take on new challenges in the space domain.
About KDDI KDDI is a leading telecommunications company in Japan with over 65 million customers. For consumers, KDDI provides reliable cellular service in Japan, Myanmar, and Mongolia. For businesses, KDDI offers loT integration in over 22 million connected cars worldwide, and global data center solutions through their Telehouse brands. Furthermore, expanding beyond telecom, KDDI focuses on sustainability, finance, energy, and DX, Life Transformation, while promoting space, mobility, healthcare, and education as Satellite Growth Strategy. KDDI, with the vision of Enhancing the Power to Connect, will create a truly connected society by leveraging 5G and upcoming technologies and services. For more information, visit:
https://www.kddi.com/english/
About GITAI GITAI aims to reduce the cost of labor in space by 100 times, thereby providing a safe and affordable means of work in space. GITAI operates in two business areas: on-orbit services and lunar infrastructure construction. For more on GITAIs products, services, and upcoming missions, visit:
https://gitai.tech/
[1]
The demo starts from 3:07 and ends at 5:29 in the video.
[2]
A United-States-led international human spaceflight program that aims to return humans to the Moon and to prepare for the next exploration of Mars.
[3]
Jan 11th, 2023 Press Release:
https://news.kddi.com/kddi/corporate/english/newsrelease/2022/01/11/5887.html
[4]
May 25th, 2023 Press Release:
https://www.kddi.com/english/open-innovation-program/news/20230525/
The information contained in the news releases is current at the time of publication. Products, service fees,service content and specifications, contact information, and other details are subject to change without notice.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
02/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
In its sixth year, the broadcaster's coverage has become a global brand and ...
01/06/2026
Designed to solve a common problem in broadcasting, the automated workflow detects, identifies, removes, and documents copyrighted music
AudioShake has introdu...
01/06/2026
The sports-analytics company combines its data with proprietary AI to help leagu...
01/06/2026
Category line-up & sponsors announced
Photo: Paul Clarke
The Production Music Awards (PMA) have announced that submissions are now officially open ahead of...
01/06/2026
New hybrid sample/synthesis instrument revealed
Excite Audio have just released the latest instalment in their Evolve series, which has been developed in co...
01/06/2026
Latest TONEX expansion captures three rare vintage amps
The newest addition to IK Multimedia's ever-growing TONEX line-up introduces a set of three incr...
01/06/2026
Musically intelligent soft synth gets upgraded
Scaler Music will be probably be best known to many for their music theory tools, but their product range al...
01/06/2026
SBS confirms its broadcast sponsors for FIFA World Cup 2026
1 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has secured Hyundai, Hisense, Macca's, Rexona, bet365, Com...
01/06/2026
Rohde & Schwarz Satellite Industry Days 2026 guided by the motto From Earth to ...
01/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
Marshall Electronics is showcasing a comprehensive lineup of next-generation POV cameras, purpose-built to power today's connected AV environments, at InfoC...
01/06/2026
Adobe Announces Concept to Vector
Deepa Subramaniam June 1, 2026
0 Comments
One of the biggest frustrations we hear from designers is how difficult it...
01/06/2026
Vampire Feature Night Patrol Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton June 1, 2026
0 Comments
Colorist shapes dark, gritty tone for horror thri...
01/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/06/2026
Agentic AI is getting physical.
At COMPUTEX on Tuesday, NVIDIA announced NVIDIA JetPack 7.2 and NVIDIA NemoClaw support on NVIDIA Jetson.
JetPack 7.2 brings a...
01/06/2026
Financial institutions have spent years building AI: fraud models, credit models...
01/06/2026
Mardi 2 juin 14h00
FilmLight (ARRI), 10 rue Ren Boulanger, 75010 Paris
Rejoignez-nous pour d couvrir comment FLAPI (l'API FilmLight) peut transformer e...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
31/05/2026
Olivia P rez-Collellmir to Premiere Original Work at Gaud Centennial in Barcelona The Berklee graduate and faculty member will debut her choral symphony with...
31/05/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Wins 15 Awards at the Canadian Screen Awards - See Pho...
31/05/2026
Taiwan is home to more than 500 NVIDIA ecosystem partners. More than 1 million N...
31/05/2026
As factories move from isolated automation to plant-wide intelligence, manufacturers need AI systems that can connect live machine signals, quality systems, wor...
31/05/2026
The NVIDIA AI Cloud ecosystem is accelerating the global buildout of AI factory infrastructure. Partners are expanding capacity to meet growing demand from ente...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Zero in on one that says yes (and no)
Andy Marken May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image courtesy of Deposit Photos
For content creators the most difficu...
29/05/2026
With InfoComm 2026 just weeks away, NDI is giving attendees plenty of reasons to...
29/05/2026
Reaffirming a partnership that has defined Canadian sports broadcasting since 19...
29/05/2026
Mobile/tablet is No. 2 device for watching TV, suggesting that the sports-production industry needs to take another look at the format
Ring Digital's Sprin...
29/05/2026
Berliner Ensemble, one of Berlin's five major theater companies, has expande...
29/05/2026
Solid State Logic will showcase its new compact, fly-away TCA Tour audio product...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, passed away last month on April 12 ...
29/05/2026
Paramount+ will be the English-language U.S. home for Barclays Women's Super...
29/05/2026
Further strengthening its virtualisation strategy to fully support broadcasters ...
29/05/2026
Swiss broadcaster Canal Alpha has deployed Harmonic's award-winning, software-based XOS Advanced Media Processor to modernize playout operations across cant...
29/05/2026
PTZOptics will showcase a new generation of intelligent video workflows at InfoComm 2026, June 17-19, Las Vegas. Visitors to booth N8227 will see how PTZOptics ...
Developing Lunar 3GPP Mobile Network Technologies for Moon Exploration 
