PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
The objectives of this project are:
- To describe industry technological trends around the development of 6G and Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC)
- To define a set of use cases for satellite optical communications in future 6G networks
- To develop systems concepts for the integration of satellite optical communications in 6G networks
- To develop simulation tools for verifying the performance of these systems concepts against defined baselines
- To simulate the different use case scenarios and compare their performance against the baselines using a set of KPIs relevant to network operators and users
- To describe a development roadmap for optical communications and 6G technologies required to evolve the system towards an operational product
Benefits
Within this project we will define and simulate architectures intended to take advantage of the performance of optical inter-satellite links as well as optical feeder links to enhance the performance of future 6G networks. These architectures focus on different use cases identified as high-value and well suited to making use of the particular features of satellite FSOC. In defining these architectures, we seek to clarify the likely features of future 6G NTN, and in simulating them we intend to increase industry confidence in the improvements to key performance parameters such as throughput, reliability, and latency that will be provided by the inclusion of satellite FSOC.
Features
The project leverages Telespazio UK’s existing expertise in next-generation mobile networks, optical communications standards, systems modelling, and optical payload design, as well as Archangel Lightwork’s expertise in optical network modelling and optical terminals. These will be used in analysing 6G and FSOC industry trends, defining realistic, high-value use cases for FSOC enhanced 6G NTNs, defining feasible systems concepts, and developing targeted simulation tools for verifying the performance of these technologies in realistic near-future scenarios.
Challenges
Future 6G networks are still not fully defined, although significant effort has gone into both developing new technologies for 6G and exploring user and network operator needs. As such it is not trivial to determine exactly how optical communications technologies can provide maximum value. The challenge of this project is to identify potential uses cases and scenarios, analyse 6G architectures, and to define how those architectures can be modified and enhanced by the inclusion of satellite optical communications networks.
System Architecture
The simulators developed within the project will be formed of discrete-timestep, topological network simulators that will provide link-level simulations of different network and use-case scenarios for both terrestrial 6G networks and integrated optical communications satellite constellations. The outputs of these simulators describing the performance and parameters of each link within the network across the scenario timeframe will be provided to a post-processing block. This post-processing will provide an event-based analysis of the performance of the simulated networks taking into account traffic models, 6G protocols, and scenario events such as natural disasters, traffic surges, and infrastructure outages. This will produce a set of key performance indicators for the simulated architecture that can be compared against a set of baseline results for networks not integrating optical satellite constellations.
Plan
The project is split into four phases:
- Use case development and 6G/FSOC state of the art survey, culminating in the Use Case Review
- Systems concept development and baselining, culminating in the Concept Review
- Simulation development and test campaign, culminating in the Simulation Review
- Detailed technology evaluation and roadmap development, culminating in the Final Review
Current Status
The project kicked off in late July 2026, and is now approaching the Use Case Review milestone, with the use case development and state of the art survey at an advanced stage. In September the systems concept development and baselining activities will begin.
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