Nano satellites, i.e. smaller satellites, are planned to be used in the project.
13 December 2024
New research centre for 6G satellite communications
Luleå University of Technology is one of the partners in a new multidisciplinary research center about sustainable, mobile and resilient satellite communication in 6G. The project receives a grant of SEK 60 million from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF.
6G technology, expected to be launched around 2030, will significantly increase network speeds and support the most advanced technologies of the future, such as real-time AI. With the help of satellites, these speeds and services can reach areas where traditional network infrastructure cannot.
The goal for the centre SMART 6GSAT (Sustainable Mobile Autonomous and Resilient 6G SatCom) is to integrate traditional land-based mobile communication and space-based satellite communication in 6G. This means that mobile devices can switch seamlessly and unnoticed between land-based and space-based networks.
Co-operation between several partners
The Centre, which will start in January 2025, is a collaboration between the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Luleå University of Technology, RISE, Swedish Institute of Space Physics and a large number of companies, together with several regions and authorities. The Centre is also supported by international universities and companies.
This extensive collaboration provides the Centre with access to real data and offers great possibilities for broad standardisation and multidisciplinary research.
“It is very positive that SSF gives Luleå University of Technology the opportunity and responsibility to design the next generation mobile standard together with the other partners ,” says Jaap Van De Beek, Professor of Signal Processing.
Accessible mobile coverage for all
In addition to Signal Processing, the research areas at Luleå University of Technology participating in the centre include Space Systems at Kiruna Space Campus and Cyber Security.
“We look forward to enhancing our research in these areas in the coming years. The vision is for mobile communication services to be seamlessly available to anyone with a 6G device, anywhere, anytime,” says Professor Jaap Van De Beek
To achieve the vision, research will focus on improving the hardware for both 6G devices and space-based satellites, developing signal processing methods that handle large signal losses and are robust to space-based interference, developing network technologies that integrate land and space systems, and developing new intelligent applications that combine communication, localization and remote sensing.
About SMART 6GSAT
The research at the Centre will be run by a total of 21 partners:
Universities: The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Luleå University of Technology (LTU).
Research institute: RISE, Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF).
Companies: Ericsson, Saab, Ovzon, Beyond Gravity, Forsway, Satcube, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), NorthernWave, Primekey, Airforestry.
Authorities, organizations and regions: Post and Telecom Agency (PTS), European Incoherent SCATter Scientific Association (EISCAT), Swedish Transport Administration, Swedish Forest Industries, Region Norrbotten, Region Västerbotten, Region Stockholm.
The center is also supported by several international universities and companies, including Eutelsat-OneWeb, Airbus, Viasat and Thales Alenia Space.
The main project leader is Cicek Cavdar at KTH.
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