European Space Agency and 5G Infrastructure Association cooperate to support Europe’s 5G vertical markets

Brussels, 11^th October 2018 – The 5G Infrastructure Association (5G IA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signalled their intent to work together to enable new and innovative 5G solutions and services in support of European industry and the 5G vertical markets and to further strengthen the ties between the space sector and the 5G IA, with its broad membership from the terrestrial and satellite industries, SMEs and Academia.

Signing a joint Letter of Intent, Colin Willcock, Chairman of the Board of the 5G IA, said: “Cross-functional expertise is essential to fulfil the potential of 5G to empower society for today’s and tomorrow’s needs. Deeper collaboration with the space sector is important and shows how we can reinforce what we have already achieved with the integration of satellite/terrestrial ecosystems in 5G IA, whilst also boosting European communications capabilities”.

Magali Vaissiere, ESA’s Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, commented that, “5G is an integral part of the digital transformation that is affecting every business sector; and space systems have a key role to play in improving the reach, robustness and economics of 5G rollout both geographically and within vertical Markets such as Transport, Energy and Media Broadcasting.”

The Letter of Intent signed by ESA and 5G IA seeks to support innovation by leveraging existing resources and facilities; planning joint activities including promotional events as well as additional trials and pilot or demonstration projects in specific markets.

Contact:

Alessandro Bedeschi – 5G IA: alessandro.bedeschi@5g-ppp.eu

Further information:

https://5g-ppp.eu

https://artes.esa.int/satellite-5g

About the 5G Infrastructure Association

The 5G Public Private Partnership (5G PPP) is the 5G collaborative research program that is organized as part of the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program – The European Union Program for Research and Innovation. It is aimed at fostering industry-driven research, monitored by business-related, technological performance and societal KPIs. The 5G PPP will deliver solutions, architectures, technologies and standards for ubiquitous next-generation communication infrastructure over the coming decade.

In the 5G PPP, the 5G Infrastructure Association (5G IA) represents the private side and the European Commission the public side. The 5G IA is committed to the advancement of 5G in Europe and to building global consensus on 5G. To this aim, the Association brings together a global industry community of telecoms & digital actors, such as operators, manufacturers, research institutes, universities, verticals and SMEs. The 5G IA carries out a wide range of activities in strategic areas including standardization, frequency spectrum, R&D projects, technology skills, collaboration with key vertical industry sectors, notably for the development of trials, and international cooperation.

Learn more about 5G Infrastructure Association at www.5g-ppp.eu – Twitter: @5GPPP

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia is an Associate Member.

ESA has established formal cooperation with six Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space. ESA also has a strong applications programme developing services in Earth observation, navigation and telecommunications.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int