6G-SKY

6G for Connected Sky

© Project 6G-SKY

Project description
The multi-layer architecture of future 6G networks requires a joint interaction of the telecommunication, aerospace and space industries. The project innovations address key elements to demonstrate technologies for 6G that underpin this architecture and address technical challenges at an early stage. Starting from 5G Release 17, which for the first time supports 5G communications over so-called non-terrestrial networks such as satellites and High Altitude Platforms (HAPs), the project partners are further developing this concept towards a generalised 6G architecture for terrestrial aerospace and satellite-based communication links. The concepts will not only be demonstrated in simulations, but also validated by means of real-time implementations both for radio links in the airspace and via satellites. The 6G-SKY project is ideally suited to prepare the German partners for 6G standardisation in the 3GPP organisation from around 2025 onwards, as well as to develop solutions for 6G at an early stage.

The 6G for Connected Sky project:

- aims to provide solutions that enable reliable and robust connectivity for users in the air and on the ground through a flexible and adaptable network architecture that leverages multiple technologies such as satellite, high altitude platforms (HAPs) and direct air-to-ground communication (DA2GC).

- focuses on novel wireless network designs and management schemes in three-dimensional space, including different types of flying vehicles with their unique requirements.

- aims to provide robust, low-latency and/or high-performance communications to ground users in rural areas without infrastructure over non-terrestrial networks (NTNs).

Consortium
Germany: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Fraunhofer Institut für Integrierte Schaltungen IIS, Ericsson Antenna Technology (EAG), Deutsche Telekom, Motius, Meshmerize GmbH
Sweden: Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Ericsson AB (EAB), Skysense AB, Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), SAS
Austria: Lakeside Labs, RED Bernard, Twins
Hungary: Ericsson Hungary, AITIA

Duration
May 2022 – April 2025

Budget (Germany)
Total costs: € 3.5 million
Funding volume: € 1.8 million