The demand for robust 5G services in today’s digital-driven societies is increasing, especially for critical sectors like public safety and defense. The 5G-HUB project in Europe focuses on integrating terrestrial and satellite networks to ensure continuous and resilient 5G Mission-Critical (MCx) services, even in challenging conditions.
The 5G-HUB initiative is part of the European GOVSATCOM strategy, which aims to provide secure governmental communications through satellite resources. It envisions a future European satellite system, IRIS², that will enhance communication capabilities for institutional users in the next decade.
Understanding the 5G-HUB Project
5G-HUB aims to combine the strengths of Terrestrial Networks (TN) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) to meet the high demands of MCx services. While terrestrial networks offer high capacity and low latency, satellite networks ensure global coverage and rapid deployment, making the integration of both essential for a resilient system.
The 5G-HUB partners, including academic institutions and industry leaders, collaborate to develop innovative solutions for seamless network integration. The project, funded by EUSPA, focuses on vertical handover mechanisms that enable uninterrupted communication transitions between terrestrial and satellite networks.
Advancing Network Integration
5G-HUB introduces the concept of Smart Gateways to manage traffic redirection during vertical handovers, ensuring smooth transitions for users. The project emphasizes network softwarisation and virtualisation to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs, especially in managing satellite resources effectively.
Integrated TN–NTN user terminals play a pivotal role in enabling transparent integration between terrestrial and satellite networks. These terminals, designed for versatility and adaptability, support various operational scenarios and ensure service continuity for mission-critical applications.
Through practical demonstrations in emergency management and medical support scenarios, 5G-HUB showcases the real-world applicability of its solutions. These demos validate the effectiveness of TN–NTN integration and highlight the potential benefits for institutional users.
As the IRIS² system evolves, the insights from 5G-HUB will play a crucial role in optimizing the integration of European LEO resources within a 5G ecosystem. The project’s outcomes will also inform future standardization activities and architectural models for TN-NTN integration.
Embracing the Future of Networks
The 5G-HUB project serves as a bridge between terrestrial 5G networks and advanced satellite communications, fostering a secure and interoperable communication ecosystem in Europe. By focusing on integration, vertical handover support, and service continuity for critical applications, 5G-HUB paves the way for resilient network infrastructures aligned with strategic visions like GOVSATCOM and IRIS².
Acknowledgements
This publication is supported by the 5G-HUB research project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101180143. The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU or EUSPA.
