End-to-end Satellite Communication Systems and Associated Services

The expected outcomes of this topic will enable flexible end-to-end satellite communication system (including both space and ground segment) with high productivity and growing data and service requirements. Security aspects should be considered in all targeted developments. Competitiveness will be strengthened by providing growing capacity per system, as well as flexibility and agility to face uncertainties and market evolutions and improving system availability and latency to deliver high-quality experience to end-users.

Projects are expected to contribute to one or several of the following outcomes:

• Capture 50% of global accessible Telecom satellite market by 2028.
• Showcasing a secure, flexible and competitive end-to-end-system aiming a ground demonstrator by 2026/27.
• Full inclusion and utilisation of satellite communication in 5G/6G network.
• Short to mid-term disruptive development and maturation of key technologies (up to TRL6) for high performance and secure communication systems.
• Support the EU space policy and end-to-end secure communication by paving the way for the deployment of a future EU secure and global quantum satellite communication capacity.
• Contribute to EU non-dependence for the development of quantum communication technology in space.
• Enhance the TRL to 5-6 of the components necessary to build a quantum satellite communication capacity using EU technology in preparation of an IOD/V.

This will contribute to developing, deploying global space-based services applications and data and contribute to fostering the EU's space sector competitiveness, as stated in the expected impact of this destination.

The areas of R&I, which needs to be addressed to tackle the above-mentioned expected outcomes are:

1) R&I on secure quantum communications through the development of components for quantum satellite communication systems as well as of space technology components and systems necessary for Quantum Key Distributions (QKD), e.g. space compatible Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG), single or entangled photon sources, decoy state systems, associated electronics, systems for key management and storage, single photon detectors and super accurate pointing mechanisms, protocols and standards, quantum specific on-board computers as well as novel user authentication mechanisms. This area also includes the tools necessary to simulate, control and monitor the space quantum information networks, development and/or use of testbeds or any other system used to recreate or simulate the space environment to test quantum satellite communications technology components.

2) R&I on ground segment, infrastructures, protocols, development of virtual network and application functions as well as networks including end-user terminals and equipment considering the handling of a range of new needs (e.g. introduced by satellite constellations, increasing data rates, flexible ultra-high throughput satellites, higher on-board and on-ground-autonomy, millimetre wavelength communication in Q/V, W-band), providing scalable and resilient solutions while reducing costs.

Proposal should address only one area. To ensure a balanced portfolio covering the two areas described above, grants will be awarded to applications not only in order of ranking but at least also to one proposal that is the highest ranked within each area, provided that the applications attain all thresholds.

Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs and research institutions) and consider opportunities to quickly turn technological innovation into commercial space usage.

Proposals under this topic should explore synergies and be complementary to already funded actions in the context of technology development at component level. In particular, the topics: Critical Space Technologies for European non-dependence (H2020 SPACE-10-TEC-2018-2020, COMPET-1-2014-2015-2016-2017), satellite communication technologies and high speed data chain (H2020 COMPET-2-2016, COMPET-3-2017, SPACE-15-TEC-2018, SPACE-29-TEC-2020). Furthermore, activities should be complementary to national activities and activities funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), while contributing to EU non-dependence.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority, beneficiaries must ensure that none of the entities that participate as affiliated entities, associated partners or subcontractors are established in countries which are not eligible countries or target countries set out in the call conditions or are controlled by such countries or entities from such countries.

Activities are expected to achieve TRL5-6 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.