The ETHER Project participated in the FOKUS FUSECO Forum, held on November 7-8, 2024, in Berlin. Hosted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (Fraunhofer FOKUS), this industry-recognized event gathered experts and thought leaders to explore advances in 5G and look ahead to 6G, with a particular focus on network integration, automation, and the role of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).
During the first day, ETHER participated in the “3rd Euro NTN Workshop: TN NTN Unification, Non-Terrestrial Networks in the 6G Era – Current Topics and Latest Advancements.” Lechosław Tomaszewksi from Orange Polska represented ETHER, delivering a compelling presentation titled “Architectural Aspects of TN-NTN Integration – The ETHER Project Approach.” His talk introduced ETHER’s architectural framework for a unified 3D mobile network, highlighting integration across terrestrial, aerial, and satellite layers. Tomaszewski detailed key use cases, including delay-tolerant IoT applications over satellite, unified RAN for handheld access, and critical air-space safety operations.
ETHER also held a prominent presence in the event’s showcase area at a dedicated booth hosted by the 5G-STARDUST project. This display featured promotional materials from fellow SNS JU projects 6G-NTN and 5G-STARDUST, underscoring their shared commitment to TN and NTN integration in the 6G era. Visitors to the booth engaged with ETHER’s vision of a fully interconnected network architecture, enabling seamless service delivery across terrestrial and non-terrestrial environments.
Key Takeaways from Fokus Fuseco Forum 2024
Tomaszewski shared key insights from the forum’s discussions, noting a convergence in the industry’s approach to TN-NTN integration. He highlighted ETHER’s innovative solutions in network management and orchestration, including infrastructure mobility management frameworks, “store and forward” mechanisms, and an SDN-based user data path. These developments align with and extend the industry’s current approach, adding unique contributions such as semantic analytics and distributed core solutions.
Reflecting on the importance of TN-NTN integration, Tomaszewski noted,
“Each generation in mobile communication brings a breakthrough. For 6G, the most tangible one will be ensuring network ubiquity across the entire globe. FOKUS FUSECO Forum recognized this challenge with a dedicated track on TN and NTN integration.”
About Fokus Fuseco Forum
The FOKUS FUSECO Forum is an internationally acclaimed event that explores advancements in public and private 5G networks and beyond, offering a glimpse into the 6G future. This year’s discussions emphasized the momentum in international standardization and ecosystem building, driven by the latest developments in Open RAN, sub-THz Radio Systems, Non-Terrestrial Networks, AI/ML, and emerging 6G technologies. The ETHER Project is proud to have contributed to these pivotal conversations, helping shape the future of truly global connectivity.
