SANSA · Project

Smart Antennas That Let Satellite and Mobile Networks Share Spectrum Without Interference

digitalTestedTRL 5

sansa-h2020.eu

Imagine your mobile network as a highway — as more cars pile on, the roads behind the scenes (the backhaul) get jammed. SANSA figured out how to let satellite links and ground-based wireless links share the same radio frequencies at the same time, like adding a second lane that doesn't interfere with the first. They built a special low-cost antenna that can steer its signal away from satellites to avoid clashes, plus a smart traffic controller that decides when to route data through space or through ground links. The result is a backhaul network that can handle surging mobile traffic, self-heal when a link goes down, and reach rural areas where laying fiber is too expensive.

By the numbers

11-fold

Predicted global mobile traffic increase (2013-2018) driving backhaul demand

EUR 2,983,930

EU research investment in hybrid satellite-terrestrial backhaul

Partners across 6 countries in the consortium

Total project deliverables produced

Demo deliverables including antenna prototype and network manager

The business problem

What needed solving

Mobile networks are choking on data growth, and the backhaul connections behind the scenes cannot keep up — especially in rural areas where laying fiber is impractical. Satellite links could help, but they currently operate on separate frequencies from ground networks, wasting valuable spectrum. Operators need a way to combine satellite and terrestrial backhaul that shares spectrum efficiently, handles interference automatically, and reroutes traffic when links fail.

The solution

What was built

The project built two working proof-of-concept systems: a low-cost smart antenna with beam and null-steering capabilities for interference mitigation between satellite and terrestrial links, validated through over-the-air testing; and a hybrid network manager that controls routing and resources across the combined satellite-terrestrial backhaul network, demonstrated in a virtual electromagnetic environment.

Audience

Who needs this

Mobile network operators expanding coverage to rural or underserved areasSatellite operators looking to sell backhaul capacity to terrestrial carriersAntenna and base station equipment manufacturersTelecom infrastructure companies deploying 5G small-cell backhaulGovernment agencies funding rural broadband connectivity programs

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Telecommunications

enterprise

Target: Mobile network operators expanding rural or underserved coverage

If you are a mobile operator struggling to extend backhaul to rural base stations where fiber is too costly — SANSA developed a hybrid satellite-terrestrial backhaul system with smart antennas that share spectrum between both links. This lets you add satellite capacity on top of existing wireless backhaul without buying new spectrum, and the network self-reconfigures when links fail or traffic spikes. The project demonstrated both the antenna prototype and the hybrid network manager across 8 partners in 6 countries.

Satellite Communications

enterprise

Target: Satellite operators seeking new terrestrial partnership revenue

If you are a satellite operator looking to sell backhaul capacity to mobile carriers but worry about interference with ground networks — SANSA built and tested a low-cost beamforming antenna that steers nulls toward satellite receivers, eliminating cross-segment interference. This opens a shared-spectrum business model where satellite and terrestrial operators both win, without either side needing dedicated frequencies. The project ran over-the-air tests proving the interference mitigation works.

Network Equipment Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Antenna and base station equipment manufacturers

If you are an equipment manufacturer looking for the next product line beyond standard base station antennas — SANSA prototyped a low-complexity, low-cost beamforming antenna with beam and null-steering capabilities designed for terrestrial backhaul nodes. The design was validated through over-the-air testing and could be integrated into existing small-cell or macro-cell backhaul products. With mobile traffic predicted to grow 11-fold, backhaul equipment is a high-demand market.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy this hybrid backhaul system?

The project does not publish per-unit deployment costs. The total EU research investment was EUR 2,983,930 across 8 partners over 3 years. The antenna design specifically targets low-complexity and low-cost manufacturing, which suggests the team prioritized affordability, but commercial pricing would depend on a manufacturer licensing the design.

Can this scale to a nationwide mobile network?

The system was designed for scalability — the hybrid network manager automatically controls routing and resources across satellite and terrestrial segments, and the network reconfigures its topology based on traffic demand. However, the project demonstrated proof-of-concept prototypes, not a full commercial rollout. Scaling would require partnership with equipment manufacturers and operators.

Who owns the IP and can we license it?

The IP is held by the 8-partner consortium led by Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC) in Spain. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the consortium. With 3 industry partners and 1 SME involved, some IP may already be positioned for commercialization.

How does this fit with 5G network rollouts?

SANSA directly addresses 5G backhaul challenges — the project's EuroSciVoc tags include 5G and satellite technology. The self-reconfiguring hybrid backhaul is particularly relevant for 5G small-cell densification where every new node needs a backhaul connection, and fiber is not always feasible.

What was actually demonstrated and tested?

The project delivered 4 demo components: a low-cost beamforming antenna prototype tested over-the-air for shared spectrum access, and a hybrid network manager demonstrated in a virtual electromagnetic environment. These are working proof-of-concept systems, not paper studies. There were 25 total deliverables across the project.

Is this compatible with existing terrestrial backhaul infrastructure?

The system was designed to integrate satellites seamlessly into existing terrestrial backhaul networks. The smart antennas are meant to be deployed at terrestrial nodes, and the hybrid network manager sits on top of both segments. Based on available project data, retrofit integration was a core design goal.

Consortium

Who built it

The SANSA consortium brings together 8 partners from 6 countries (Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Luxembourg, UK), led by CTTC, a well-known telecom research center in Spain. With 3 industry partners (38% of the consortium) and 1 SME, the project has meaningful commercial involvement alongside 3 research organizations and 1 university. This mix suggests the technology was developed with industry input, though the relatively low SME count (just 1) means commercialization may depend on larger equipment manufacturers or operators picking up the results. The geographic spread across major European telecom markets (Germany, UK, Spain) is a plus for adoption.

CENTRE TECNOLOGIC DE TELECOMUNICACIONS DE CATALUNYACoordinator · ES
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LABORATORY IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIESparticipant · EL
ORGANISMOS TILEPIKOINONION TIS ELLADOS OTE AEparticipant · EL
UNIVERSITE DU LUXEMBOURGparticipant · LU
VIASAT ANTENNA SYSTEMS SAparticipant · CH
AVANTI COMMUNICATIONS LTDparticipant · UK
THALES ALENIA SPACE ESPANA SAparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC), Spain — a leading telecom research center

Order a report on this consortium See CENTRE TECNOLOGIC DE TELECOMUNICACIONS DE CATALUNYA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this hybrid backhaul technology or connecting with the SANSA team? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help evaluate the business fit for your network.

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