POSITIONING-INDEPENDENT AIR-INTERFACE TECHNIQUES FOR 6G NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 7B.092) - EXPRO+

Objective: Objective of the activity is to develop and test positioning-independent techniques for Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) air interfaces.TargetedImprovements:Enable positioning independency for ground NTN terminals.Description: The development of a positioning-independent air-interface is deemed essential for future 6G NTN. Conventional 5G NTN terminals rely heavily on GNSS for positioning andtiming information, which means a terminal with no or poor GNSS reception cannot use NTN technology. Moreover, GNSS signals are vulnerable to spoofing and jamming,which can compromise the reliability and security of the communication links. By developing positioning-independent techniques, NTN terminals can operate without relying onGNSS or other positioning systems / sensors, enabling indoor coverage which is one of the goals in 6G for NTN as defined in the 3GPP roadmap. This feature is also crucialfor maintaining reliable communication in various scenarios, including critical infrastructure and emergency response. Positioning-independent modems can then operate inenvironments where positioning signals are weak or unavailable, such as indoors, urban canyons, or remote areas. This flexibility enhances the overall coverage and reliabilityof NTN services.This activity will explore the use of alternative techniques and protocols enabling a positioning-independent NTN air interface. Techniques and protocols shall be implementedin a modem prototype and evaluated in a real-time testbed possibly based on open radio stack.Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to:http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Small_and_Medium_Sized_Enterprises/Opportunities_for_SMEs/Procurement_policy_on_fair_access_for_SMEs_-_the_C1-C4_Clauses