The 5G/6G Hub – based at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) at Harwell in the UK – is a place for collaboration and innovation, where industry will take advantage of the immense potential of converged satellite and terrestrial telecommunications networks to create advanced applications that benefit society and the environment. Benefiting from the support of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) the Hub fits into the UK Government’s 5G and 6G strategy.
While initially focused on 5G, as the connectivity transformation continues, a further generation, 6G, will become part of the Hub and provide even greater capacity.
Developed with information technology company CGI, the 5G/6G Hub enables three types of activities, through the provision of a private 5G network with SatCom connectivity in a business-driven facility designed to engage the wider community.
• Events and Showcases
The ESA 5G/6G Hub provides a focal point at the Harwell Science & Innovation Campus from where the capabilities enabled by innovative uses of 5G and SatCom technologies can be demonstrated to VIPs, industry, and the general public.
• Engineering Demonstrations and Applications
The ESA 5G Hub provides a location at which Application Developers and Service Providers can come together to test and verify the feasibility and benefits of their 5G converged network applications and services.
• Engineering Lab
The ESA 5G Hub provides an engineering lab within which technical engineering and support can be provided to demonstrate and integrate new 5G and SatCom capabilities and equipment functionalities.
Each of these activities supports the other. The Engineering Lab supports the development of Demonstrators and Applications, and these Demonstrators and Applications support the outreach activities. The support of ESA ensures that the environment is considered “open”: it supports multiple satellite service providers and potentially multiple core networks, radio access nodes etc.
The 5G/6G Hub is a gateway for commercialisation of space-enabled business ideas and multi-domain collaboration. Stakeholders from all vertical sectors are welcome to come and see how hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks can contribute to their business.
ESA’s ambition is to extend the Hub’s technology to cover businesses at the Harwell Campus, and then across Europe and beyond to connect with other research facilities, fostering innovation in ESA’s member states and globally. The 5G/6G Hub forms an integral part of ESA’s wider efforts to use space technology to enable connectivity.
ESA 5G/6G VIRTUAL TOUR
NEWS AND EVENTS
ESA drives European and Japanese Partnerships for 5G/6G technological collaboration
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) of Japan met at the NICT Innovation Center in Tokyo on 31 March. The meeting discussed the key results of trials resulting from the ESA…
ESA and GSMA to support three 5G/6G-NTN innovation challenges for global seamless connectivity
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Foundry announced at MWC25 Barcelona, Spain, an ESA-funding round to support three innovation challenges.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA), taking a further step towards transforming the future of global connectivity.
ESA white paper to optimise performance and operations for 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks
The European Space Agency (ESA), together with a consortium of European satellite industry, terrestrial technology providers and terrestrial mobile network operators, have released a study to investigate and optimise…
ESA and Seamless Air Alliance drive 5G Non-Terrestrial Network connectivity for aviation
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Seamless Air Alliance (SAA) have made key achievements in the development of 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) for aviation connectivity.
ESA’s 5G/6G Hub introduces new 5G- millimetre-wave capabilities
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a contract with Poland-based Creotech Instruments S.A. and Microamp Solutions to develop 5G-millimetre-wave (mmWave) capabilities, providing ultra-low latency that is critical…
ESA, Telesat and Amarisoft achieve world-first 5G 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network link over LEO
ESA and Telesat have reported a groundbreaking milestone in telecommunications technology, successfully establishing the world's first 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) link over Low Earth Orbit (LEO) between the ESTEC 5G Laboratory and the…
ESA project pioneers AI enhanced 5G and high-resolution imaging solutions
ESA’s Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity programme line is playing a pivotal role in bridging technological frontiers, demonstrating how space-enabled networks can transform business capabilities through the…
ESA and Telesat showcase the potential of Non-Terrestrial Networks for timing and positioning
ESA, in collaboration with Telesat (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT), has achieved a significant milestone in developing future satellite Internet technology, successfully testing new 5G capabilities that could revolutionise how businesses and individuals…
ESA study sets path for European 5G space networks
ESA, together with a consortium of European satellite industry and satellite and terrestrial 5G technology providers, has developed a study to assess future 5G space-based infrastructures and their associated system…
ESA boosts Italian agriculture and disaster response through 5G satellites
Satellite 5G capabilities are growing in their importance across businesses and society. ESA’s 5G-HOST-SAT (5G Hub Over-The-Air Vertical Segment Validations) project is working to support the digitisation and greening of the…
ESA project to revolutionise communication of media content with satellite-enhanced 5G networks
ESA’s 5G-EMERGE project, as part of its Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity programme, is expanding its scope to meet the growing needs of media distribution as it moves into its second phase.