ESA’s Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Forum, a not-for-profit organisation that kicked off in July 2024, has brought together over 288 global experts, stakeholders, and industry leaders to advance the development and integration of NTNs in the evolving 5G Advanced and 6G networks.
Implementing and promoting integrated Non-Terrestrial and Terrestrial networks are crucial for the future of global connectivity. Against this background of an increasing need for better connectivity, NTNs provide an opportunity to unlock prosperity in areas in which traditional terrestrial network (TN) operators cannot currently reach, due to the economic limitations of reaching rural communities.
By complementing existing terrestrial networks, NTN-enabled satellites are offering a viable alternative to meeting these needs, particularly through the ongoing development of satellite Direct-to-Device connectivity. The forum will engage stakeholders to adopt and utilise NTN-based technologies to ensure the digital divide is reduced on a global scale, unlock new economic opportunities for underserved communities and continue to meet evolving needs of businesses.
Looking forward to 6G, the NTN Forum will address future use cases, covering several vertical sectors needs and the augmented capacities for NTN networks to cope with extended connectivity scenarios. By addressing these challenges head on, the forum will serve to offer operational flexibility and the expected services features.
The forum has members from 144 individual organisations, across 31 countries, all of which share the same aim to provide a collaborative framework to implement NTN solutions for 5G and subsequent 6G networks through international cooperation and innovation across the connectivity industry.
As part of the connectivity sector, the forum is working to complement and collaborate with other associations, such as Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Global Satellite Operator’s Association (GSOA), Seamless Air Alliance (SAA), vertical sector associations, as well as international and national 6G initiatives. The forum acts as a neutral facilitator in bringing a diverse set of industry players, with the collective goal of driving the widespread adoption of NTN-based technologies to better connect citizens, governments and businesses across the globe.
To meet these wider objectives, forum members will work to consolidate requirements, create awareness for the opportunities presented by experimentations and demonstrations of NTN technologies, to advocate, cooperate and promote the value of NTN through interoperability and certification. These discussions will further facilitate mutual understanding and work to streamline discussions ahead of standardisation meetings at 3GPP, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and other fora.
“ESA is incredibly proud to have such a positive global response to the launch of our NTN Forum, bringing together stakeholders from across the connectivity ecosystem to meet our collective aim of maximising the return of non-terrestrial networks for society and business,” said Antonio Franchi, Head of the Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity programme line.
“Our team is looking forward to working with our growing community of experts, stakeholders and industry leaders to ensure TN and NTN technologies can complement and converge, for 5G Advanced and future 6G deployments,” said Maria Guta, Senior 5G/6G Satellite Solutions Architect, “The objectives of the NTN Forum will aim to meet the current and potential challenges the sector faces, for a more prosperous and connected society and economy.”
For those interested in learning more or getting involved in future initiatives, ESA welcomes participation from professionals within the 5G/6G and NTN ecosystems. More information on the initiative, as well as instructions to join the forum can be found on the NTN Forum webpage.
The forum forms part of the work plan under the Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity strategic programme line, which demonstrates the essential nature of integrated TN/NTN for 5G and 6G, part of the Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme.
