This work is supported by the HORIZON-MSCA-2024-SE-01-01, Project ID 101236523 and Innovate UK.
Total amount is €1.8 million for five Universities and 3 Industries in EU and UK.
Raed A Abd-Alhameed, Viktor Doychinov, Vuong Mai, Ifiok Otung
University of Bradford, (UoB), Organisation in United Kingdom
London South Bank University (LSB), Organisation in United Kingdom
Technische Universität Dresden (TDN) - Organisation in Germany
University of Athens (UoA) - Organisation in Greece
University of Trento (UDT) - Organisation in Italy
Fogus Innovations and Services PC (FGS) - Organisation in Greece
Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT) - Organisation in Cyprus
JIO Platforms (JIO) - Organisation in Estonia
Fogus Innovations and Service P.C. (FGS), Athens, Greece
Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT), Nicosia, Cyprus
JIO Platforms Ltd (JIO), Estonia
Summary
The 5G business case extend towards the air where in-flight broadband connectivity (IFBC) will be a reality. The market has taken a step in this direction by introducing DA2G (Direct Air-to-Ground) mobile services that is able to guarantee LTE (4G) speeds (data limited to 75Mbps per cell). Moreover, this capacity has to be shared with several aircrafts and shared by on board passengers. In response to aviation stakeholders towards IFBC services, the Next Generation Mobile Alliance (NGMN) has proposed Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for beyond 5G use-cases targeting mobile backhauling for aircrafts. Based on their estimations, each user will have 15/(7.5) Mb/s download/(upload), so that 1.2/(0.6) Gb/s download/(upload) speed is required per aircraft, assuming 20% active users per aircraft and 400 passengers in each aircraft. To achieve these anticipated data rates, quite clearly there is a need for enhanced utilization of spectrum, radio resource and network management and antenna technologies that current systems cannot deliver. To valid the proof-of-concept, experimentation in the lab is the next step on the technology readiness ladder. However, there are limited system level simulation tools that can capture fully the dynamics of the aerial networking medium to test Airbourne radio protocols/algorithms, where existing solutions are either confined to 2D network modelling space suitable for legacy ground based networks or providing minor capability on modelling practical scenarios. This SE (staff exchange) action referred to as AeroNet, aims to advance 5G-based aerial networking protocols and to demonstrate attainable performance through experimentation on a 3D system level simulator to deliver new insights on the performance benefits of analytical design approaches. This will be achieved by implementing the research goal through planned staff exchanges, that will also promote staff training through the transfer of knowledge based on international and internal EU partners.
AeroNet Objectives and Details
The "AeroNet" project, recently awarded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges (SE) call within Horizon Europe, exemplifies a forward-thinking interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to revolutionizing in-flight broadband connectivity (IFBC). Its primary aim is to push the boundaries of existing communication standards beyond 5G, fostering the development of innovative, resilient, and scalable aerial network solutions that deliver seamless, high-capacity services to aircraft traversing land and sea as shown in Figure 1. By integrating cutting-edge antenna technologies, advanced radio protocols, spectrum management strategies, and intelligent network control systems, AeroNet seeks to bridge current gaps in aerial communication—particularly high latency, limited data rates, and protocols ill-suited for high-mobility environments.
The project’s research objectives focus on multiple technological breakthroughs. It aims to design conformal millimeter-wave (mmWave) antennas with high directivity and efficiency, suitable for installation on aircraft surfaces, utilizing innovative concepts such as surface wave and leaky-wave antennas. Concurrently, AeroNet plans to develop advanced radio resource management techniques, notably Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), to optimize spectral efficiency and support elevated data throughput. An AI-driven self-organizing network (SON) will be implemented to enable dynamic spectrum allocation, interference mitigation, and autonomous mobility management through reinforcement learning and game-theoretic models. A comprehensive 3D system-level simulation platform will be created to accurately model aerial environments, facilitating the validation of protocols and architectures under realistic mobility and interference conditions. Additionally, the project aims to extend existing 3GPP standards to incorporate integrated terrestrial, aerial, and satellite connectivity, ensuring seamless handovers, low latency, and spectrum sharing.
Methodologically, AeroNet adopts a structured, multi-phase approach—beginning with scenario analysis and market surveys, progressing through prototype design and protocol development in collaboration with academia and industry, and culminating in rigorous simulation, testing, and validation. The initiative leverages a multidisciplinary framework combining wireless communications engineering, antenna design, artificial intelligence, spectrum policy, and business modeling. This comprehensive strategy is poised to position Europe as a leader in aerial connectivity innovation, addressing market needs projected to reach $130 billion globally over the coming decades.
The AeroNet grant application will be highlighting the following key research points:
- Innovative Integration of 5G, Satellite, and Aerial Networks: AeroNet aims to develop a comprehensive, 3D integrated architecture for beyond 5G (6G) aerial connectivity, addressing current gaps in terrestrial and satellite communication coexistence and paving the way for seamless ground-air-space networks.
- Advanced Radio Technologies and Conformal Antenna Designs: The project proposes cutting-edge conformal mmWave antennas and NOMA-based access schemes specifically tailored for aircraft, enhancing high-throughput, energy-efficient, and robust aerial communications in challenging atmospheric conditions.
- AI-Driven Autonomous Network Management: AeroNet incorporates machine learning and reinforcement learning techniques to enable self-organizing, autonomous spectrum management, interference mitigation, and dynamic network slicing, significantly advancing intelligent aerial network control.
- Groundbreaking System-Level Simulation Tool: Building on existing simulation platforms, AeroNet will develop a novel 3D system-level validation environment for aerial networks, supporting realistic modeling of mobility, interference, and physical layer effects, thus accelerating research-to-market translation.
- Structured, Multi-Phase Methodology with Clear Milestones: The project employs a well-organized three-phase approach—scenario definition, algorithm/architecture development, and experimental validation—ensuring systematic progress, risk mitigation, and feasibility.
- Strong Interdisciplinary and Industry-Academic Collaboration: The consortium combines leading academic institutions with industry partners, fostering knowledge exchange, practical experimentation, and co-creation of market-ready solutions, bolstered by extensive secondments and joint workshops.
- Focus on Standardization and Open Science: AeroNet actively contributes to 3GPP and IEEE standardization efforts, commits to open access publication, data sharing under FAIR principles, and dissemination activities, maximizing scientific impact and societal benefit.
- Comprehensive Training and Career Development: The initiative emphasizes staff training through secondments, cross-sectoral skill development in wireless communications, AI, and business modeling, thus enhancing the career prospects of early-stage researchers and fostering a highly skilled workforce.
- Clear Exploitation and Market Penetration Strategy: AeroNet aims to deliver validated prototypes, promote industry adoption, and explore commercialization channels—including licensing and joint ventures—targeting the rapidly growing in-flight broadband market projected to reach $130 billion globally.
- High Societal and Environmental Impact: By advancing low-latency, energy-efficient, and sustainable aerial communication solutions, AeroNet supports societal needs for better passenger experience, safer aviation, and Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy.
In addition, the AeroNet project signifies a revolutionary progress in the evolution of beyond 5G (B5G) aerial communication, yielding substantial scientific and commercial implications. AeroNet innovates integrated satellite-terrestrial-aerial networks through the development of conformal millimeter-wave antennas, sophisticated radio protocols, and autonomous network management techniques employing machine learning. Its novel methodology tackles essential issues including 3D interference control, seamless mobility, spectrum sharing, and network slicing specifically designed for aerial situations. The project employs a multidisciplinary approach that integrates advanced wireless communications, artificial intelligence, and systems simulation, promoting novel cooperation among prominent academic and industrial partners around Europe. This will create a cutting-edge experimental instrument for evaluating aerial network protocols, addressing existing deficiencies in 3D modelling and open science methodologies, and aiding in standardisation initiatives (e.g., 3GPP, IEEE). AeroNet seeks to penetrate the lucrative in-flight broadband industry, anticipated to attain $130 billion globally within two decades, thereby substantially augmenting airline earnings and improving passenger experience with high-speed, low-latency connectivity. Furthermore, its innovations will stimulate European dominance in aerial 5G solutions, allowing vendors and operators to deliver uninterrupted, dependable connectivity in progressively congested airspaces, including UAVs and HAPS. The technological advancements of this project will expedite commercialisation, promote enduring research partnerships, and enhance Europe's leadership in next-generation aircraft communication systems.