ESA’s Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity programme is playing a pivotal role in bridging technological frontiers, demonstrating how space-enabled networks can transform business capabilities through the transformative potential of advanced AI applications that leverage high-resolution imaging and 5G network infrastructure.
In partnership with Nokia Real-time eXtended Reality Multimedia (RXRM), ESA’s 5G/6G Hub, at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT), in the UK, is able to demonstrate this innovative technology for applications.
The project demonstrates the transformative capabilities in areas such as environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, and remote service delivery through the integration of advanced AI computer vision methods with high-resolution 8K 360-degree camera. For instance, AI models can now detect wildfires in real-time, track deforestation with unprecedented accuracy, and enable remote infrastructure inspections that dramatically reduce operational risks and costs.
This initiative highlights ESA's role not just as a space research organisation, but as a catalyst for technological innovation that can reshape entire industries. A wide range of industries stand to benefit from this technological development, which combines advanced AI, high-resolution imaging, and 5G connectivity.
By supporting these innovations, ESA is actively accelerating digital transformation across industries and its Member States. ESA’s 5G/6G Hub, primed by Canadian technology and software development company, CGI as the hub developer, provides a unique environment where companies can explore applications ranging from telemedicine in remote regions to advanced environmental monitoring systems.
ESA is positioning itself as a critical partner for businesses looking to develop and implement advanced technological solutions that can address some of society's most pressing challenges. Looking forward to future connectivity solutions, such as 6G and Non-Terrestrial Networks, ESA is collaborating with organisations such as Nokia to meet societal and economic challenges and unlock digitisation and connectivity opportunities.
“Leveraging AI for connectivity solutions showcases ESA’s commitment to harnessing emerging technologies with our Industry partners. We’re proud to be working with such innovators in Nokia, showcasing real-time AI applications like object detection and pose estimation at the 5G/6G Hub, using 5G and satellite connectivity,” said Antonio Franchi, Head of ESA’s Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity programme.
“This project integrates advanced AI techniques with Nokia’s RXRM system and 5G connectivity, using fine-tuned, state-of-the art object detectors like YOLO v11 for computer vision tasks such as object detection, segmentation and pose estimation. It enables real-time, accurate analysis of high-resolution data, crucial for emergency response, environmental monitoring and infrastructure inspection. Staying at the forefront of these transformative technologies is essential for addressing global challenges quickly and accurately,” Ana Stroescu, ESA’s Research Fellow in AI, 5G/6G NTN Programme Office.
"Nokia RXRM solution empowers AI use cases with essential real-time multimedia input and visualisation, ensuring seamless performance in time-critical and real-time business workflows. We are privileged to collaborate with ESA in the creation and enablement of such innovative solutions, driving forward the future of multimedia and AI-driven technologies," Emre B. Aksu, Bell Labs Fellow and RXRM CTO, Nokia.
