GSMA and European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) to bring the mobile and satellite industries closer together to collaborate on developing new satellite and terrestrial networks technologies. This partnership aims to strengthen the mobile and satellite network industries.
By increasing market competition within the mobile and satellite network industries, GSMA and ESA hope to speed up the development of non-terrestrial technologies. The GSMA Foundry innovation accelerator is at the centre of this partnership. The Foundry facilitates cross-industry collaboration and business development to advance the mobile communication field.
As per the new collaboration, the GSMA Foundry will work with ESA’s 5G/6G Hub, based at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Oxfordshire and brings together the satellite industry to collaborate on new programmes.
As part of the MOI, the GSMA and ESA aim to collaborate and share knowledge, ideas, and outcomes of trials, which can help better integrate 5G and future 6G communications with non-terrestrial networks. This will be done through joint GSMA Foundry and ESA technology challenges supporting terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, as well as through joint events and promotions at conferences, such as Mobile World Congress.
To bring added support to the partnership, GSMA Intelligence (GSMAi) will add research and insights on key focus topics.
Recent research findings by GSMAi showed that the increased adoption and integration of satellite technologies by the communications industry could lead to potential revenue gains of [$35 billion (€31.19 billion)] by 2035 (a 3% uplift on telecommunications industry revenues).
Speaking following the signing of the MOI at ECSAT in Oxfordshire, Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer at the GSMA, says “By collaborating more closely with the European Space Agency, and its satellite network operator ecosystem, we hope to accelerate the immense potential satellite and terrestrial telecommunications networks can create for consumers and businesses when they are more closely connected. By working together, we can help the communications industry bring innovative solutions to market, which in turn will create tremendous benefits to society by connecting even more people, wherever they are in the world.”
Antonio Franchi, head of space for 5G and 6G strategic programme, ESA, says “Collaboration is key to telecommunications innovation and, from our 5G/6G Hub, we are fostering industry partnerships to advance the 5G digital transformation of society and industry. We look forward to working with GSMA to explore and realise the huge potential of next-generation satellite-enabled connectivity.”
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