ESA Partners with Spacetime for O-RAN Compliant Hybrid Connectivity

Aalyria, a spin-out from Google, has been awarded a development contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to deploy its O-RAN compliant "network orchestration" technology, called Spacetime, at the agency's ECSAT 5G/6G Hub in Harwell, Oxfordshire. The aim of the project is to unlock new 5G/6G Terrestrial (TN) and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) capabilities. Aalyria will be opening a UK office in London to support the project.

Spacetime enables hybrid connectivity among different assets operating across various domains, including land, sea, air, and space. It is based on emerging 5G-Advanced and 6G standards. Aalyria's collaboration with ESA will focus on enabling interoperability within networks such as satellite communications, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and other space-based assets. They will work on identifying, implementing, and testing enhancements to the O-RAN Alliance's standardized Radio Access Network management interfaces to support future use cases such as roaming between satellite and terrestrial assets, in-flight connectivity, connected vehicles, and at-sea connectivity.

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is also involved in supporting the program. Aalyria CEO Chris Taylor stated, "This achievement marks a significant milestone in Aalyria's journey towards reshaping the future of space communications to create a new universal connectivity fabric. Our collaboration with the European Space Agency is a testament to our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with 5G NTN connectivity. We are also excited to introduce Aalyria UK, which will serve as a strategic hub for our operations in the United Kingdom, fostering new partnerships and driving innovation in the region."

The ESA emphasized the importance of collaboration in its connectivity strategies. Antonio Franchi, Head of Space for 5G and 6G Strategic Programme at ESA, said, "Collaborations with industrial partners, like this one with Aalyria, play a pivotal role in ESA's efforts to advance the digital transformation of industry and society, thanks to the integration of 5G/6G Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks. Establishing seamless ubiquitous and resilient connectivity is vital in the context of emerging technologies. The platform envisioned under this development contract could be a game-changing asset for telecommunications systems, with substantial benefits for stakeholders."

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Aalyria, which came out of stealth mode last year, has also signed contracts with Telesat, Intelsat, Rivada, and others for the use of its technology. Spacetime is a production-validated platform that has previously orchestrated HAPS networks on Google's Project Loon in Kenya and Peru.

In addition to the Harwell project, Aalyria is opening a UK office in London, which will serve as its global 5G TN/NTN headquarters. The company already has offices in Palo Alto and Livermore, California.

Source: TelecomTV