6G SATCOM

6G SATCOM is a multidisciplinary research center funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF), focusing on Sustainable Mobile Autonomous and Resilient 6G Satellite Communication (SMART 6GSAT). The center is a collaboration between universities, research institutes, and a wide range of specialized companies, together with several regional and governmental authorities.

6G technology, expected to be launched around 2030, will bring significantly increased network speeds and support for the most advanced future technologies, such as real-time AI. With the help of satellites, these speeds and services can reach areas where traditional network infrastructure is unavailable.

The goal of the SMART 6GSAT (Sustainable Mobile Autonomous and Resilient 6G SatCom) center is to integrate traditional land-based mobile communication with space-based satellite communication in 6G. This will allow mobile devices to seamlessly and imperceptibly switch between terrestrial and satellite networks.

The center, which launched in January 2025, is a collaboration between the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Luleå University of Technology, RISE, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, and a wide range of companies, together with several regional and governmental stakeholders. The center is also supported by international universities and companies.

This extensive collaboration grants the center access to real-world data and provides significant opportunities for broad standardization and multidisciplinary research.

— It is very gratifying that SSF has entrusted Luleå University of Technology with the responsibility of shaping the next-generation mobile standard together with our partners, says Jaap Van De Beek, Professor of Signal Processing.

In addition to signal processing, space technology systems at Kiruna Space Campus and cybersecurity are also included in the research areas at Luleå University of Technology participating in the center.

— We look forward to advancing our research in these areas over the coming years. The vision is that mobile communication services should be seamlessly accessible to anyone with a 6G device, anytime and anywhere, says Professor Jaap Van De Beek.

To achieve this vision, research will focus on improving hardware for both 6G devices and space-based satellites, developing signal processing methods that handle significant signal losses and are resilient to space-based disturbances, creating network technologies that integrate land and space systems, and developing new intelligent applications that combine communication, positioning, and remote sensing.

Project Duration:
January 2025 – December 2030

Main Funder:
Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF)

Project Partners:
KTH, RISE, Ericsson, SAAB, Ovzon, Beyond Gravity, Forsway, Satcube, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), NorthernWave, Primekey, Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), Swedish Institute of Space Physics, EISCAT, Swedish Transport Administration, Swedish Forest Industries Federation, Region Norrbotten, Region Västerbotten, Region Stockholm

Project Coordinator:
KTH