On 7 November 2024, ETHER participated in an online workshop organized by the Hexa-X-II project, which included contributions from other SNS Joint Undertaking (JU) projects focused on Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), namely 6G-NTN, 5G-STARDUST and 6G-SANDBOX. This workshop aimed to share the progress of Hexa-X-II in developing integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (TN-NTN) and to better understand the activities of other NTN-related projects to identify potential synergies.
The workshop successfully brought together experts and researchers from various projects, sparking productive discussions on the future of hybrid TN-NTN networks. It served as a collaborative platform to discuss technical advancements, use cases, and sustainability strategies. It fostered dialogue on the integration of TN and NTN systems, which is critical for the development of future 6G networks.
Joan A. Ruiz-de-Azúa (i2CAT) and Agapi Mesodiakaki (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) represented ETHER with a presentation titled “ETHER: A Sustainable 3D Architecture“. The discussion honed in on the integration of a Geographical Information System (GIS) and mobility manager into the ETSI MANO architecture, enabling effective mobility management for physical infrastructure in hybrid terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (TN-NTN).
ETHER also provided insights into sustainability metrics and target values related to carbon footprint reduction and energy consumption. It highlighted that capacity-driven scenarios are better suited for terrestrial networks, while coverage-driven scenarios rely on non-terrestrial networks, emphasizing the need for hybrid solutions for sustainable 6G systems. ETHER’s 3D architecture was recognized for achieving exceptional energy- and cost-efficiency performance.
Moreover, a general key takeaway from the discussions was the critical importance of the air interface for seamless TN-NTN integration to ensure efficient data transmission and interoperability.
This workshop reinforced the commitment of ETHER and its partners to advancing innovative solutions for sustainable and high-performance 6G networks. For more updates on the presentations of this workshop, stay tuned to this webpage or the Hexa-X-II project website.