The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected telecommunication
giant Nokia to build the first cellular network on the moon, the Finnish
company said on Monday.

The
decision to build the first cellular network on the moon comes under NASA’s project
Artemis that seeks return to the earth’s natural satellite to establish lunar
settlements and establish long-term presence.

Nokia
further stated that it would establish the first wireless broadband
communications system in space by late 2022.

The
Finnish company will partner with a Texas-based private space craft design
company called Intuitive Machines  to
deliver equipments to the moon, as per a Reuters report.

Nokia
further added that once delivered the network will automate and configure
itself to create a 4G/LTE telecommunications system on the moon. The company
added that the aim is to ultimately shift to 5G network.

The
network will allow astronauts to communicate through voice and video calls, and
will also enable telemetry and biometric data exchange, as per a Reuters report.
The network will also allow the deployment and remote control of lunar rovers
and other robotic paraphernalia, reported the company.

The
network with also have capability to withstand extreme conditions of the launch
and lunar landings, besides operating in space. The device will be sent to the
moon in a packed form keeping in mind the stringent requirements and
constraints posed by space payloads.

Nokia
further added, that the network will be equipped with 4G/LTE, as it is known
for its reliability. The company added, that in time, it would “pursue space applications of LTE’s successor technology, 5G.”