ESA and GSMA Foundry open new round of Innovation Challenges for 5G/6G connectivity via satellite at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026

02 Mar 2026

The European Space Agency (ESA), in partnership with the GSMA Foundry has announced a new round of Innovation Challenges to fast-track technology and product developments that will advance networks blending terrestrial telecom infrastructure with satellite communications at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026.

For the past three years, the Innovation Challenges have been jointly defined by ESA and GSMA Foundry. Their goal is to help European industry scale innovations that will accelerate the delivery of ubiquitous global connectivity through the seamless integration of satellite and terrestrial assets. This year, new Challenge categories were unveiled across four strategic pillars, designed to advance technological developments pivotal to the commercialisation of such hybrid networks:

• AI x NTN: Integrating Artificial Intelligence with the emerging trend of Non-Terrestrial Networks will allow next-generation mobile connectivity to benefit from nearly ubiquitous and continuous coverage by orchestrating traffic and dynamic spectrum through satellite networks on multiple orbits.

• Direct-to-Device (D2D): On the ground, consumer and commercial users will rely on standardised and globally accessible satellite connectivity directly to consumer smartphones and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.

• 5G and 6G Hubs: The convergence of standards-based mobile connectivity and satellite communications will be advanced through targeted exchanges and collaborative testbeds to help operators and developers to create the next generation of hybrid network infrastructure.

• 6G innovation: Focusing on early-stage 6G technologies, such as edge intelligence and advanced IoT by emphasising areas where satellite-terrestrial convergence will play a crucial role. 

The 2026 edition of the Innovation Challenges announced at MWC Barcelona 2026 is the third round in an ongoing partnership between ESA and the GSMA Foundry inaugurated in 2024. Successful applications selected by ESA and its National Delegations are invited by the GSMA Foundry to showcase their achievements at the MWC Barcelona conference. These live project demonstration contribute to increasing their visibility, as well as their opportunities for collaboration with leading organisations in the telecommunications and space sectors. Furthermore, successful applicants are directed to relevant ESA funding mechanisms and programmatic support to fast-track the development and commercialisation of their project.

Successful submissions originating from the ESA Member States that have subscribed to the Space to 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity programme line of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme during the ESA Council at Ministerial Level 2025 (CM25) will be able to apply for funding from a dedicated investment of up to €100 million put forward to support innovation.

This year, the five winners of the 2025 edition of the Innovation Challenges will present their innovations in live demonstrations at the New Frontiers area of Hall 6 at MWC Barcelona 2026, with support from Accedo, Autodiscovery, AWTG, Celeste, Filtronic, Keysight & Sateliot, Lasting Software, MediaTek & Rohde & Schwarz, Microamp, MinWave Technologies, Nextworks, Nokia, OQ Technology, Photon Industries and Qoherent.  

“Our Member States’ unwavering support in our programmes, particularly during the ESA Council at Ministerial Level (CM25), has made this collaboration with GSMA Foundry possible,” said Laurent Jaffart, Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity at ESA. “At Mobile World Congress, we’re collectively marking a pivotal moment for the convergence of Europe’s space and telecommunication sectors. By offering funding access for AI, NTN, and D2D, we are not just developing technology; we are preparing for the seamless, global 6G infrastructure of tomorrow.” 

“By combining the reach of the mobile industry with ESA’s space expertise, we are unlocking a new era of connectivity. This funding and our showcase demonstrate that hybrid networks are no longer a concept, they are a commercial reality,” Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer at GSMA, said “The collaborative breakthroughs you see today signal a step-change for digital transformation, making seamless and universal connectivity possible even in the most remote regions. Together, we are driving forward innovation that will empower businesses, revolutionise industries, and bring transformative benefits to society as a whole.”  

The up to €100 million investment put forward by ESA’s Members States at CM25 is part of their subscription to the Agency’s Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity. Under this programme line, ESA’s aim is to support industry in integrating satellite communications with the connectivity currently enabled by terrestrial networks. The potential benefits of this convergence are far-reaching: mobile and Internet-of-Things connectivity could become consistently available by seamlessly switching from terrestrial to non-terrestrial networks. This ubiquitous connectivity will help bridge the digital divide by improving commercial and consumer applications, for example with access to emergency services and telemedicine, even in remote locations.

Applicants for the 2026 ESA and GSMA Foundry Challenges are now able to submit their projects to be considered for funding and support, as well as the opportunity to showcase their innovation at MWC Barcelona 2027.