Airbus Arrow satellite platform that will be used for Airbus UpNext SpaceRAN demonstrator. Photo: Airbus - 2022Airbus UpNext, the innovation subsidiary of Airbus, has launched a new demonstrator programme called SpaceRAN (Space Radio Access Network) to investigate advanced 5G Non‑Terrestrial Network (NTN) capabilities. The aim is to support fully standardised global connectivity by proving how future satellite networks can integrate seamlessly with terrestrial 5G infrastructure.
The initiative forms part of Airbus’s wider strategy to provide secure, cost‑effective connectivity solutions across commercial, defence and Governmental sectors. SpaceRAN will assess how 5G NTN can deliver universal, interoperable and globally available communications for a wide range of applications.
A central element of the demonstrator is Airbus’s software‑defined satellite technology, which allows 5G signals to be managed and processed directly in orbit rather than simply relayed. This architecture is expected to reduce latency, increase data throughput and enable more efficient network management, including future user‑to‑user direct connectivity.
Real-time decision-makingMichael Augello, CEO, Airbus UpNext, said: “The successful exploration of this technology will unlock advantages across various sectors. For commercial aviation, it holds the potential to boost operational efficiency and simplify interoperability, all while enabling enhanced passenger experiences. Similarly, for the military and Government sectors, it aims to provide more resilient and secure communications, supporting improved situational awareness and accelerating real-time decision-making.”
To deliver the SpaceRAN programme, Airbus has brought together a consortium of partners including Aalyria, AccelerComm, CesiumAstro, Deutsche Telekom, Eutelsat, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Keysight Technologies, Onati, Radisys, Sener and ST Engineering iDirect. The demonstrator is being developed under the Air!5G project, supported by the French government through the France 2030 investment plan and its Future Networks strategy.
SpaceRAN is scheduled to deliver its first results by 2028. Airbus expects the programme to help shape the next generation of wireless communications, including preparations for 6G, and to contribute to reducing the long‑term cost of data transmission from orbit.