Satellite communication technologies

Proposals shall address one of the following sub-topics:

a) Secure and robust satellite communications, such as key generation and distribution, adapting to quantum technologies, anti-jamming technologies and products, anti-spoofing techniques, advanced coding, signal modulation and cryptography, secured uncoordinated multiple access, threats simulation, secure and robust telemetry, tracking and command (spread spectrum);

b) Bandwidth efficient transmission techniques to serve multiple users with high throughput satellites, e.g. frequency reuse techniques, multiple antenna communications, beamforming, cooperative gateway diversity, user clustering and interference mitigation;

c) High speed processing and flexible and reprogrammable telecommunication payloads, able to adapt to changing service needs such as capacity flexibility and geographic redistribution of the traffic and to satellites integration in the 5G protocol and system. Simulation and end-to-end resources management shall be addressed;

d) Optical communications, including photonics, for very high throughput systems with more than 10 Gbps (e.g. hybrid RF/optical payloads use of optical up- and down links), on-board and ground aspects focusing on feeder links, system and architecture aspects encompassing technologies such as enhanced space-to-ground/RPAS; low complexity on-board processing and limited coherent processing; orbit to ground mission data download focussing on very high throughput optical feeder links (up to 1 Tbps) and very high speed rates optical ground station for feeder links (towards 1Tbps);

e) Flexible broadband passive and active antenna techniques, such as phased array antennas for very high throughput spaceborne or airborne satellite communication applications (consisting of broadband conformal antenna arrays, broadband beamforming and broadband RF front-ends), including multi-beaming smart antennas and integration of antennas in the platform, active antenna critical technologies, lens antenna techniques, 5G dedicated active arrays;

f) Inter-satellite links, data relay solutions and on-board switching, for potential future LEO constellations (including constellations of small satellites), supporting high data rates relay (up to 40 Gbps), including terminals, in such diverse contexts as GEO/MEO to LEO, airborne (including RPAS) to GEO;

g) Advanced RF equipment in terms of higher frequency bands (e.g. Q, V/W) and re-configurability (e.g. GaN HPAs, optimised TWTA, LNAs);

h) Ground systems technologies for satellite communication services and applications: evolution of ground control stations and teleports, also enabling full interoperability with future terrestrial telecommunication networks (including 5G) and optimising performance, coverage, costs, reliability and security in the provision of differentiated services and applications to diverse user categories.

Proposals shall consider enabling technologies and solutions aiming at exploiting the potential synergies between the Satellite Communication domain and the Navigation and Earth Observation domain (such as EO/SatCom hybrid mission satellites, smart satellites, high data rate solutions, high speed links, high performance processors, antennas/reflector/structures, ground segment).

Participation of industry, in particular SMEs, is encouraged.

Activities shall be complementary and create synergy with other European activities in the same domain. Emphasis shall be given to the preparation of future and advanced satellite communications technologies up to TRL 4-5. Technological spin in and/or bilateral collaborations should be enhanced between European non-space and space industries.