---
title: "The Moon Is Getting Cell Service"
description: "NASA just paid Bell Labs $14.1 million to develop a 4G network — on the Moon."
date: "2020-10-19"
modified: "2020-10-19"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/moon-getting-4g"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Moon"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "4g"
  - "moon"
  - "NASA"
  - "the digest"
---

# The Moon Is Getting Cell Service

![NASA just paid Bell Labs $14.1 million to develop a 4G network — on the Moon.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/moon-getting-4g.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NASA/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Zero Bars

NASA wants any human presence on the Moon to have a great cell signal, so it's investing in a lunar 4G network.

The Space Agency gave Nokia's Bell Labs a $14.1 million in grant money to build out the Moon's telecom infrastructure, *[Business Insider ](<https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-nokia-4g-network-moon-2020-10>)*[reports](<https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-nokia-4g-network-moon-2020-10>). With the goal of having a network up and running by 2030, the goal is to get a network in place that could help [any sort of outpost](<https://futurism.com/nasa-artemis-base-camp-moon>) on the Moon manage life off-world.

## Roaming

NASA wants anyone on a Moon base to be able to use the network to navigate their area — sort of like how we look up directions — as well as stream video messages and remotely steer rovers and other space robots, *Business Insider* reports.

"This mission will validate the future of other operational deployments and the potential for human habitation on the moon," Bell Labs [tweeted last week](<https://twitter.com/BellLabs/status/1316780509599543296?s=20>).

https://twitter.com/BellLabs/status/1316780509599543296?s=20

## Moon Base Operational

The planned 4G network is just one of several investments NASA made recently with the goal of setting up a long-term [base of operations](<https://futurism.com/astronauts-build-moon-base-human-urine>) on the Moon and, [eventually, beyond](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/martian-lava-tubes-large-planetary-base>).

"Together, NASA and industry are building up an array of mission-ready capabilities to support a sustainable presence on the Moon and future human missions to Mars," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine [said in a press release](<https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-partners-to-advance-tipping-point-technologies-for-the-moon-mars>).

**READ MORE:** [NASA gave Nokia $14.1 million to build a 4G network on the moon](<https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-nokia-4g-network-moon-2020-10>) \[*Business Insider*\]

**More on Moon exploration:** *[Scientists: Astronauts Could Build Moon Base Using Human Urine](<https://futurism.com/astronauts-build-moon-base-human-urine>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)