The ETHER Project was delighted to participate in the IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM 2024), held in Cape Town, South Africa, from December 8–12, 2024. This conference is a flagship event of the IEEE Communications Society, showcasing innovations in telecommunications and providing a vibrant platform for researchers, industry experts, and technologists to exchange ideas.
ETHER Highlights at GLOBECOM 2024
Industry Panel: Mega-Constellation-based Non-Terrestrial Network for 6G
On December 10, Professor Symeon Chatzinotas (University of Luxembourg), took part in an Industry Panel on the potential of mega-constellation-based Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) for 6G, moderated by Wen Tong, CTO of Huawei Technologies. Professor Chatzinotas joined the panelists, including Rahim Tafazolli (University of Surrey) and Halim Yanikomeroglu (Carleton University), to discuss the integration of NTNs into terrestrial cellular networks.
The discussion highlighted the enablers required for NTNs in 6G, such as advanced air interface solutions, efficient mobility designs, and dynamic routing algorithms. Symeon Chatzinotas offered insights into how ETHER aligns with these goals, underscoring the project’s contributions to advancing sustainable, high-capacity global connectivity.
Workshops: Showcasing ETHER’s Cutting-Edge Research
The ETHER Project’s involvement extended to two workshops, where Dr Agapi Mesodiakaki (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) presented research closely tied to ETHER’s mission.
Next Generation Intelligent Wireless Emergency Communications
On the opening day, December 8, Mesodiakaki presented another innovative paper titled “A Just-in-Time Medium-Transparent MAC Protocol for Multi-Service 5G X-haul Transport Networks” (Gatzianas et al., 2024). The paper presents a new scheduling system called jMT-MAC, which organizes data transmission in next-generation 5G and 6G networks that combine fiber and wireless technologies. This system ensures that critical data, like those needed for ultra-reliable and low-latency applications, are prioritized while still reducing delays for less important data. It performs much better than current methods, especially for low-priority traffic.
In the context of the ETHER project, which aims to connect terrestrial and satellite networks for 6G, jMT-MAC could play a vital role in managing diverse types of data efficiently. It ensures reliable communication for critical tasks while making overall data flow smoother, which is essential for future technologies.
The session underscored the critical role of intelligent communication systems in disaster scenarios, a theme closely related to ETHER’s focus on resilient network architectures.
6G Architecture
Agapi Mesodiakaki presented the paper “Techno-economic Analysis of Sustainable Terrestrial, Aerial, and Space 6G Networks” (Bratsoudis et al., 2024). This research – aligned with ETHER Deliverable D2.3 that covers the project’s technoeconomic analysis and business plan – explores how to best integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial base stations (such as satellites and drones) in 6G networks to meet growing data demands while keeping costs low. It focuses on minimizing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for different base station types by analyzing their energy use and cost-effectiveness under various scenarios. The study finds that non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) can reduce costs significantly, especially in areas where wide coverage is needed.
For the ETHER project this research highlights the economic benefits of hybrid architectures. By showing how NTNs can lower costs while meeting 6G traffic demands, it supports the project’s goal of creating efficient, scalable networks for the future.
The presentation was part of the 6GArch: The 4th Workshop on 6G Architecture, held on December 9, emphasizing the importance of scalable and sustainable solutions in future 6G systems.
Bridging Research and Industry
ETHER’s participation at GLOBECOM 2024 demonstrated its commitment to bridging cutting-edge research with industry needs. From Symeon Chatzinotas’ insights on mega-constellation NTNs to Agapi Mesodiakaki’s research in sustainable and emergency communication systems, the project showcased its role in shaping the future of global telecommunications.
The ETHER Project team expresses gratitude to the organizers and attendees for making GLOBECOM 2024 an exceptional event. The exchange of ideas and discussions at the conference reinforced ETHER’s mission to revolutionize connectivity in the 6G era.