EUCNC | Workshop 7

Aligning European NTN Convergence and Integration

3GPP has completed Release-17 of the global fifth generation (5G) wireless technology standard, making Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and satellite segments part of the 5G/6G connectivity infrastructure and ecosystem. NTN multi-layer systems and terrestrial networks must work in harmony to fulfil the vision of a connected, sustainable B5G/6G architecture and support sustainable connectivity and fulfilment of the social and sustainable development goals. The NTN family includes satellite communication networks, high altitude platform systems (such as HAPS, UAVs), and air-to-ground networks. Satellites complement 5G networks nicely and specifically help improving the value of 5G networks by addressing coverage challenges and complex use-cases that ground-based infrastructures cannot address efficiently alone. Given the proliferation of new projects in the European context with the shared goal of integrating NTN with 5G and 6G Terrestrial Networks (TN), the ambition of the workshop is to create an overview of the activities and see how the various initiatives can all contribute to a coherent strategy to achieve NTN/TN convergence in Europe. Achievements here are given more importance because of the IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) initiative of the EU for a new EU Secure Satellite Constellation.