Top industrial and academic experts
The 6G-NTN consortium consists of 13 partners from eight European countries: Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, the UK, Spain, and Luxembourg. The consortium has been carefully assembled to ensure an effective contribution to the integration of NTN into 6G networks. Among project partners are leading industrial and academic experts in satellite and network communications, AI, software development, business modeling, innovation ecosystems management, communication and outreach, security, and data management, among other fields. Nine partners are major European industrial players with prominent roles in the research, development, and standardization of NTN in 5G, B5G, and 6G; two are dynamic SMEs active in 5G/6G research and innovation; three are top European research organizations; and one is a not-for-profit association focused on green technology and sustainable digital development. The partners were chosen for their research and technical excellence, proven track record in thought leadership, and extensive experience in ambitious projects of this nature.
Description: The University of Bologna (UNIBO) is known as the oldest University in the western world. UNIBO is a member of the major European Networks and stakeholders’ thematic groups, including the 5GPPP the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the 6G Infrastructure Association (6G IA), and the Networld2020 European Technology Platforms (ETP). UNIBO is a full member of ETSI and of 3GPP. The activities of the University of Bologna will be conducted within the Department Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi” (DEI).
Role in 6G-NTN: UNIBO coordinates the 6G NTN project and, as such, will lead WP1 “Project management” ensuring a successful and efficient coordination and management of the study. In addition, UNIBO also leads Task 4.1 “Flexible waveform design and validation,” contributing to the evaluation, selection, and design of PHY techniques and algorithms, including interference management and beamforming, for the new air interface. UNIBO will then also contribute to the definition of the 6G NTN architecture, RRM constraints, and to the successful dissemination of the project findings and results to relevant scientific journals and conferences, as well as standardisation fora. More about UNIBO’s key role in 6G-NTN.
Description: Thales Alenia Space (TAS), a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo S.p.A (33%), is a key European player in space telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration and orbital infrastructures. Within Thales Alenia Space group, Thales Alenia Space -France (TASF) is the lead competence center for telecom systems, payloads and antennas, as well as GSO (geostationary Synchronous Orbit), satellites platform design and development, etc.
Role in 6G-NTN: TASF will undertake the technical coordination of the project. Furthermore, TASF will lead the WP3 Architecture design and trade-offs as well as selected tasks including reliable positioning, standardisation and exploitation strategy. TASF will contribute to all other WPs.
Description: Martel (MAR) is a dynamic and innovative SME with more than 25 years of experience in EC-funded projects, involved in >40 H2020 projects and 6 recently funded Horizon Europe ones, including several RIAs, IAs and CSAs in the 5G, Satellite, Next Generation Internet, Cloud and IoT domains. Moreover, MAR is involved in the Horizon Europe 6GSTART CSA that is supporting the overall SNS JU launch – in 6GSTART MAR leads dissemination and coordination.
Role in 6G-NTN: MAR’s primary role is to guide impact creation activities (leading WP6) and ensure broad outreach and strategic positioning of the project within the overall SNS JU landscape by facilitating liaisons with major relevant initiatives MAR is already involved in (see above). In addition, MAR will also have an important technical role contributing to the end-to-end networking aspect of the project, and specifically leveraging its strong expertise in cloud-native and microservices architectures, open-source infrastructure components, and cloud-edge-IoT intelligent systems. More about Martel’s role in 6G-NTN.
Description: Greenerwave SAS is a French deep tech startup based in Paris with 40 employees. The ambition of Greenerwave is to valorise the ideas developed at Institut Langevin by Mathias Fink and Geoffroy Lerosey in the context of the passive control of electromagnetic wave propagation using electronically reconfigurable metasurfaces. Therefore, the purpose of Greenerwave is to develop electronically tunable metasurfaces using knowhow acquired from years of research at the top level in the field of metamaterials and metasurfaces, and algorithms needed to control waves using these metasurfaces, that are also the result of years of research at a world level in the field of wave control and wavefront shaping.
Role in 6G-NTN: As part of WP3.2, Greenerwave will evaluate the enabling technologies to optimize the performance (Tx and Rx RF, including EIRP, G/T, switching speed, etc., but also beam steering flexibility) under tight installation (e.g., vehicle, drone, or building mounting), volume constraints (i.e., form factor) as defined by WP2, while considering power consumption and Bill of Material (BOM) of the ultra-small aperture terminals operating in mmWave bands (i.e., Q/V-band). More about Greenerwave’s role in 6G-NTN.
Description: THALES SIX GTS FRANCE SAS (TH-SIX) is a major subsidiary of the THALES Group. In 6G-NTN, THSIX will be represented, as the world leader in critical information systems, and secure communications, which addresses every activity related to telecommunications from systems down to components: radio communications, flexible waveform design, IP networks, orchestration, cyber security, mission-critical applications and satellite communication.
Role in 6G-NTN: TH-SIX leads spectrum coexistence aspects (Task 4.3), Enablers for E2E integration in 6G system architecture (WP5), dynamic orchestration and autonomous monitoring (Task 5.2) and cyber security aspects (Task 5.3). TH-SIX contributes to flexible waveform design and validation (Task 4.1), reliable positioning (Task 5.1) and standardisation and pre-standardisation activities (Task 6.3). TH-SIX leads several deliverables: the spectrum regulation analysis for 6G NTN scenarios (D4.4), the preliminary report on spectrum management techniques (D4.7), the final report on spectrum management techniques (D4.8), the initial report on orchestration and monitoring solutions and cybersecurity threats for 6G-NTN (D5.2) and the final report on orchestration solutions and cyber security framework for 6G-NTN (D5.3).
Description: Ericsson is the global leader in RAN and Core networks . Ericsson conducts and actively drives research and development of new sustainable solutions, targeting market needs for mainly telecommunication and also other vertical industries such as manufacturing, media, automotive and transport.
Description: Ericsson is the global leader in RAN and Core networks . Ericsson conducts and actively drives research and development of new sustainable solutions, targeting market needs for mainly telecommunication and also other vertical industries such as manufacturing, media, automotive and transport.
Description: The Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC) was an initiative of the Governement of the Generalitat of Catalunya in December 2001. The main objectives of CTTC are to conduct research in communications technologies and geomatics; to participate in research and development competitive projects, mainly developing or applying communication technologies; to develop tools and solutions based on geomatics, communication networks, systems and technologies; to provide training and support to graduate students and post-docs in the scope of its R&D activities.
Role in 6G-NTN: CTTC leads WP4 related to radio technologies of 6G NTN. Within the same WP4, CTTC leads the task T4.2 devoted to the design of data-enhanced radio controllers. They will contribute with ML-based techniques for radio control ranging from gNB policies to satellite mission control. Additionally, in T4.1 they will work on data-driven air-interface designs considering recent advances in deep learning techniques applied to waveform optimization. In WP3 they will perform a space segment modeling for being employed in WP4. Furthermore, they will collaboratively contribute to the 6G NTN use cases and to disseminate the results of the project to experts in the field. More about CTTC’s role in the project.
Description: DLR’s Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical fundamentals to the demonstration of new technologies and systems in real-world environments and is embedded in DLR’s Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalisation programs. The Satellite Networks department plays since many years a leading role in Europe in the conception and investigation of novel system concepts, transmission techniques, protocols and applications for Satellite Communications.
Role in 6G-NTN: DLR will lead Task 3.1 where the 3D multilayered NTN architecture will be specified. The outcome of this task is crucial for many subsequent tasks. Moreover, DLR is contributing to Task 4.1 focusing on HARQ for NTN. Last not least, DLR will contribute to dissemination and standardization activities.
Description: ORA is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 42 billion 42.3 billion euros in 2020 and 142,000 employees worldwide on 31 December 2020, including 82,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 259 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2020, including 214 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. ORA is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand ORA Business Services.
Role in 6G-NTN: ORA will lead analysis for defining Requirements the WP2, with more emphasis on services and technical requirements in T2.2 for delivering D2.2. ORA will also contribute with technical works on TN and NTN coordination that will be included in D3.1 and D4.2.
Description: As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world’s only multi-orbit constellation of GEO/MEO satellites covering 99% of the globe and world population. SES has participated in several ESA, EC funded projects and initiatives of direct relevance, e.g., satellite integration into 5G/B5G, 5G NTN direct-to-device connectivity system, edge computing for satellite remote terminals, next-generation internet of things. Furthermore, SES is a member and actively involved in 5G/ 6G-related standardization activities within ETSI, 3GPP, ITU-R and CEPT.
Role in 6G-NTN: SES will lead the regulatory framework and the spectrum usage conditions in sub-6GHz and Q/V bands. Furthermore, SES will contribute to the market and business analysis, the definition of the use cases and the consolidation of user requirements and system requirements. In addition, SES will contribute to the exploitation plan and activities of the project, with a great commercial interest in the delivered assets. More about SES’ role within the project.
Description: Qualcomm Communications (QC) is the world’s leading wireless technology innovator, inventing the technologies that underpin and ensure ever-improving speed, security and latency-free wireless connectivity that is contributing to the digital transformation of economies. Its fundamental innovations and products used in mobile devices and other wireless inventions allow the development of the mobile ecosystem (smartphones, tablets, computers, XR, etc.) and its expansion into new industries (industry of the future, automotive, drones, etc.). The company has several R&D centers in France with more than 180 employees.
Role in 6G-NTN: QC will leverage on its strong expertise in advancing long-term 5G/6G research spanning systems design, standardization, and prototyping to multiple work packages. More about Qualcomm’s role in 6G-NTN.
Description: Digital for Planet is a non-profit organisation at work to support the design, development and adoption of innovative digital technologies, systems and solutions empowering people, communities and both public and private organisations to effectively address the major social, economic and environmental challenges humanity must face.
Role in 6G-NTN: D4P aims to ensure sustainability aspects are properly considered across all planned project activities, both to understand what the main requirements and relevant criteria are to be taken into account when defining use cases and requirements, but also when analysing the main business and policy related factors (via its participation to WP2). Moreover, through its participation to WP6, D4P will run specific activities, such as dedicated panel sessions, webinars, surveys, interviews, participation to events, online promo campaigns, etc., to better frame and elaborate on the potential benefits for the environment of the 6G-NTN outcomes, aiming to contribute to the EU Green Deal objectives, but also to selected SDGs, e.g., SDG9, SDG 11, SDG 13. D4P will support the Coordinator’s team to the Project Management activities under the implementation of the WP1. More about Digital for Planet’s role in 6G-NTN.