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Future Preparation

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Helping industry shape tomorrow’s space-based communications and ensure a commercially viable, sustainable, and independent European satcom capability for the future.

Future Preparation is the strategy component of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme. Its primary goals are to identify and help create new market opportunities for European industry through studying new mission and service concepts, defining future technology development needs, informing future regulatory efforts, helping develop new industry standards, and building new Advanced Research Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) project activity.

The programme helps ensure space communication systems evolve to meet future demands by analysing emerging technologies, markets, spectrum requirements, and standardisation needs while enhancing connections between space and terrestrial communications networks..

Programme features

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Anticipation of market and technology needs to seed future initiatives for growth in the satellite communications market.
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Gathering and analysing business intelligence, maintaining a stakeholder dialogue, investigating new system concepts and technologies, and addressing barriers to entry.
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Industrial activity is fully financed by ESA, with no national endorsement required.

Future preparation activities and partnerships projects

OngoingSTATUS DATE: 11/06/2025

V2LeoSim

Advanced Technology
Competitiveness & Growth
Future Preparation
OngoingSTATUS DATE: 10/06/2025

Intelligent System Study

Future Preparation
Next generation of systems
OngoingSTATUS DATE: 03/05/2025

IPFS

Future Preparation
Next generation of systems
CompletedSTATUS DATE: 22/07/2025

BOLERO

Future Preparation
Next generation of systems
Ongoing

Identification of Technology Spin-In Opportunities

Support to Telecom Strategy
OngoingSTATUS DATE: 04/11/2024

HARS

Next generation of systems
CompletedSTATUS DATE: 29/10/2024

SHLVs for Satcom

Next generation of systems
CompletedSTATUS DATE: 16/08/2024

High-Aspect Ratio Satellite Platforms for Satellite Communication Missions

Next generation of systems
Ongoing

Pioneer

Ongoing

Triton-X

Heritage

SmallGEO

Heritage

Satellite Automatic Identification System (SAT-AIS)

Heritage

PACIS 3

Ongoing

Space Inspire Novacom II

Heritage

Neosat

Heritage

Large Platform Mission (LPM)

Key Components of ESA’s Future Preparation Programme Line

Future Preparation operates through several parallel but inter-connected workstreams spanning market research and analysis, outreach and engagement with the European satellite communications sector, studying new satellite communications system concepts and architectures, and building new ARTES programme elements and partnerships:

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Market Analysis and Business Intelligence
Related to the global satellite communications sector, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, as well as global economic and industrial trends and developments.
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Business Development through Industry and Academia Relations
Through the Future Preparation programme, we establish and maintaining close relations and a continuous dialogue with industrial, academic, and institutional players from across the satellite communications sector to properly understand, influence, and support their future development and growth plans.
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Researching New satellite Communication System Concepts and Service Types
We work with the European satellite communications sector to study and develop new satellite communication system concepts and applications, including new satellite system architectures, new services, and applications, improving integration and interoperation with terrestrial systems, and exploring spin-in from other relevant high technology application areas.
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Defining Future Technology Development Needs
We identify future technology development needs – especially for execution under other ARTES elements, either in terms of technology feasibility demonstrations, product and system development support, or in-orbit validation and demonstration needs.
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Ensuring Access to Radio Spectrum
With a view to ensure adequate access to radio spectrum, we identify spectrum needs for new and future systems, advocating for the satellite communications sector in securing new and protecting existing allocations, promoting efficient sharing and interoperation between space-based communication systems and terrestrial networks.
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Standardisation Activities
We support satellite communication sector standardisation efforts to promote fair and equal market access. For example, modulation and coding standards, communication protocols, ground terminal standards, test and verification methods, and equipment interoperability..
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Supporting Regulation
We support regulatory efforts, for example, to help overcome access barriers to space, access to global markets, and related to the long-term sustainable exploitation of the space environment.
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Building New ARTES Projects and Programmes
We create the next group of strategic programme lines for the ARTES programme, identifying new programmatic structures to support the development and growth of the satellite communication sector, as well as building partnership opportunities with industrial actors.

Fully funded by ESA

Study activities conducted by industry and academia under the Future Preparation programme benefit from 100% support from the Agency.

What Ideas are we looking for?

Work under the Future Preparation is executed by both the personnel of the Agency, complemented by contracts placed with external actors, such as industry, academia, research institutes, and consultancy companies.
Work is implemented through a dynamic Rolling Work Plan that continuously evolves with sector needs and technological developments. Ideas from industries, operators, service providers, universities, and research centres in participating Member States are continuously collected, evaluated, and incorporated.
Subsequent Future Preparation industrial activities are fully funded by ESA, with opportunities announced through a competitive tender process.

For the best chance of success in being adopted for investigation through Future Preparation, ideas should:

Represent new market opportunities for industry

Create growth by developing new industry standards.

Align with future technology development needs

Help ESA build new ARTES programmatic activity.

HOW TO WORK WITH US

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RELATED LINKS & CONTACS

CONTACT

Xavier Lobao

ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1

2201 AZ Noordwijk

The Netherlands

+31 652062134

Xavier.Lobao@esa.int

About Industrial Competitiveness

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Partnership projects

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About the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES)

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How to Work with Us

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