News
5G METEORS funded activity delivers first software-defined 5G New Radio demonstration over GEO satellite
Satellite-enabled 5G services have the potential to provide worldwide connectivity. For the first time now, selected extensions of 5G New Radio (NR) to support non-terrestrial networks (NTN) have been successfully demonstrated over a geostationary (GEO) satellite. The Munich Center...
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5G METEORS implements and operates a framework supporting dynamic prototyping in the 5G satellite convergence domain for direct access of New Radio over satellite, as well as for backhauling, responding in an agile manner to technology developments driven by the market and the standardization work in 3GPP to support the integration of satellites in 5G. Individual activities are to be selected and executed through competitive open calls.
Project Objectives
5G METEORS supports the dynamic investigation and prototyping in the 5G satellite convergence as currently studied in 3GPP RAN and SA. The objective is to respond in an agile manner to technology developments driven by the market and the standardization work in 3GPP to support the integration of satellites in 5G for direct access (3GPP RAN) and backhaul (3GPP SA). Individual activities are to be selected and executed through competitive open calls. The open calls are expected to mobilize implementers, experts and stakeholders beyond the usual stakeholder community ESA is doing business with.
Challenges
5G METEORS addresses a broad range of challenges in the 5G and satellite convergence and integration domain. The challenges also vary by nature and range from feasibility analysis and studies to actual prototyping and concept validation.
Benefits
5G METEORS is expected to mobilise expertise, knowledge and know-how developed and accumulated by various players in Germany in the 5G and satellite communication domains. A considerable cross fertilisation of the two historically separate community and concepts, terrestrial and satellite is expected from the activity, as well as reaching out and mobilising small stakeholders beyond those that ESA is usually doing business with.
Features
5G METEORS publishes competitive open calls for projects, providing opportunities for target stakeholders to address specific technical, design and development challenges in the 5G and satellites convergence domain.
System Architecture
5G METEORS addresses various technical challenges in the 5G and satellites convergence domain through competitive open calls. In general, for direct access using New Radio over satellite, the new 5G system architecture is assumed, as it is currently being described by the most recent architecture white papers on the 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership website at https://5g-ppp.eu/white-papers/. For backhaul use cases, the system architecture studies in 3GPP for non-terrestrial-networks (NTN) are to be considered.
Project Plan
5G METEORS uses competitive open calls over a 24 months period to award target stakeholders to investigate specific technical challenges and implement solutions and prototypes for them. Such ‘Maker Space’ activities will be 100% funded, with typical values of between € 5,000 and € 60,000 per activity.
Current Status
The project was kicked-off in March 2019. The First Open Call was concluded in 2019, and a number of activities are currently running, some of them nearing completion. The Second Open Call has been launched.
