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The Catalan research centre has awarded Open Cosmos a contract to manufacture and put into orbit 6GStarLab, a small satellite that will be the first in Europe to be used for low-orbit open research in non-terrestrial networks and the future 6G
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The initiative is part of the UNICO I+D 6G programme, promoted by the Ministry for the Digital Transformation and Civil Service and financed with NextGenerationEU funds
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The satellite will be launched in October 2025 and is expected to be operational in early 2026
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Accelerated research on 6G space-to-ground connectivity will be made possible by leveraging laser communication terminals and Catalunya’s first Optical Ground Station by Transcelestial
Barcelona, March 6, 2025. The i2CAT research centre has announced within the Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2025 the launch of Europe’s first Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) laboratory for non-terrestrial network (NTN) research and development. This innovative mission will consist of a small satellite, called 6GStarLab. It will experimentally validate new communication technologies in a real space environment and contribute to standardising NTNs, essential for the evolution of advanced 5G and future 6G.
6GStarLab will allow the research staff of the Catalan centre and its ecosystem to validate technological developments in orbit, accelerating research on satellite networks and their integration with terrestrial infrastructures. More specifically, the laboratory will allow the study and validation of virtualisation techniques for satellite infrastructure and the evaluation of 6G communication frequencies with multi-frequency devices. In addition, the satellite will incorporate an optical terminal to accelerate satellite-to-ground communications in this domain. 6GStarLab will be an open and flexible testbed, allowing experiments to be deployed and executed remotely, promoting innovation in the emerging ecosystem working towards the interconnection between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
At the presentation ceremony held yesterday, the Secretary for Telecommunications and Digital Transformation of the Government of Catalonia, Albert Tort, said: “With this laboratory in orbit, Catalonia is consolidating its position as a benchmark in research. This project not only boosts scientific innovation but also generates opportunities for our country’s technological and industrial ecosystem. From the Government of Catalonia, we will continue to support initiatives like this, which combine cutting-edge research, public-private collaboration and real impact on society”.
The i2CAT director, Sergi Figuerola, highlighted, “6GStarLab is a significant milestone for non-terrestrial network research at European level as it provides a real infrastructure in space that will allow validation of some of the key 6G technologies. This open laboratory, financed with NextGeneration funds, will mark a before and after in our environment in the research of satellite communications and their integration with terrestrial networks”.
i2CAT plans to strengthen research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the extension of connectivity through non-terrestrial networks, as well as publish research results for the scientific community. In addition, the 6GStarLab infrastructure will be available to the scientific and technological community interested in exploring and experimenting with the communications of the future, fostering the development of innovative solutions in different sectors and following the roadmap being drawn up by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the field of 6G.
Manufacturing and launching the satellite into orbit
i2CAT has awarded a public contract worth 1.65 million euros to the company Open Cosmos for the design, manufacture, integration, launch and commissioning of the 6GStarLab satellite. At the same time, the satellite will incorporate payloads designed by i2CAT and the Catalan company Microwave Sensors and Electronics (MWSE), which have been developed through 6GSatNet, as well as a space-to-ground optical communication laser terminal and a corresponding ground station from the Singapore-based company Transcelestial. Finally, the set of antennas for radio frequency communications will be developed by the NanoSatLab group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). The satellite is scheduled to be launched in October of this year and to be operational for research purposes in early 2026.
Before launch, the satellite will undergo rigorous testing to ensure its proper functioning in orbit. In addition, Open Cosmos will provide a representative engineering model of the satellite to i2CAT to validate the laboratory experiments before its deployment in orbit.
“We are very proud to participate in developing the 6GStarLab satellite, a project that will place Catalonia and Europe at the forefront of space communications. This project is a perfect example of how cooperation between companies, research centres and institutions can accelerate the development of 6G, placing the space segment at the centre of advanced and secure communications for the Earth”, said Rafel Jordà, CEO of Open Cosmos.
Implementing this in-orbit open laboratory has been possible thanks to the funding obtained by i2CAT in the call for the subprogramme of infrastructures and scientific-technical equipment aimed at universities and research centres promoted by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service. This sub-programme is part of the Universalisation of Digital Infrastructures for Cohesion (UNICO) R&D 6G programme, promoted by the Spanish Government within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and financed with NextGenerationEU funds. It aims to consolidate Spanish leadership in advanced 5G and 6G research. In total, i2CAT has obtained 10 million euros from the infrastructures and scientific-technical equipment subprogramme to deploy several laboratories.
For Transcelestial press enquiries and requests, please contact: Rachael De Foe ([email protected])
For further enquiries in laser communications technology by Transcelestial, visit https://transcelestial.space or contact [email protected]
About Transcelestial
Transcelestial has mass-produced a solution for superfast global Internet distribution that leverages its proprietary wireless laser communication technology to create a wireless distribution network between buildings, traditional cell towers, street-level poles and other physical infrastructure – with a much lower total operating cost for Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers and enterprises. Transcelestial aims to develop a constellation of LEO satellites, allowing their laser network to not only connect inter-cities but upwards in space to connect continents globally. Transcelestial has won numerous industry and global awards such as Most Frontier Company by Asiastar10x10, SPIFFY San Andreas Award for Most Disruptive Technology by Telecom Council, Forbes 30 Under 30 to their CTO Dr. Mohammad Danesh, Edge 35 Under 35 to their CEO Rohit Jha, The Most Ambitious Start-Up in Photonics Award by The Optical Society (OSA).
About i2CAT
The i2CAT research centre drives advanced digital solutions through applied research and innovation. The centre has over 20 years of multi-technology expertise in 5G/6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Space Communications, Immersive, Interactive, and Digital Society Technologies. With an approach focused on knowledge transfer, i2CAT generates a tangible impact on the economy and improves people’s lives by connecting public administration, private enterprise, the scientific community and citizens. i2CAT is part of the CERCA network and is accredited by the TECNIO certification.
About Open Cosmos
Open Cosmos is a space company that designs, builds and operates end-to-end satellite missions, providing the world access to data and information. We offer a comprehensive service covering the whole space value chain, including the design, manufacture, mission management and launch of tailor-made satellites for companies, institutions and governments worldwide. Our mission management solution, OpenOrbit, covers everything from conception to manufacturing, launch and operations. DataCosmos integrates satellite imagery, data and applications into actionable intelligence, while OpenConstellation drives collaboration and improves global coverage. Our vision is to empower organisations to create change and tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.
