SaT5G · Project

Satellite Backhaul for 5G Coverage Where Cell Towers Cannot Reach

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Imagine you need fast 5G internet on a plane, a cruise ship, or in a remote village where no cell tower exists. Right now, satellites and mobile networks speak different languages — connecting them is clunky and expensive. SaT5G figured out how to plug satellite links directly into 5G infrastructure so they work together seamlessly, like adding a wireless extender to your home router but on a global scale. They actually tested this on aircraft and campus networks to prove it works in real conditions.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the satellite and telecom value chain

countries represented in the consortium

62%

industry participation ratio in consortium

live demonstrations completed with performance reports

total project deliverables produced

industry partners including satellite operators and mobile network operators

The business problem

What needed solving

Delivering 5G connectivity to aircraft, ships, rural communities, and emerging markets is economically impossible with cell towers alone. Satellite can fill the gap, but today's satellite systems are bolted on as clunky add-ons rather than integrated natively into 5G networks. This means poor user experience, inefficient bandwidth use, and no clear business model for satellite-mobile cooperation.

The solution

What was built

The project built and validated satellite-5G backhaul integration technology across 3 demonstration scenarios: aircraft mobility with caching and multicast, domestic and campus content optimization, and 5G control/user plane harmonization. It produced 25 deliverables including performance reports with measured KPIs, plus direct contributions to 3GPP and ETSI 5G standards.

Audience

Who needs this

Mobile network operators expanding 5G coverage to rural and underserved areasAirlines and maritime companies offering passenger broadband connectivitySatellite operators positioning their capacity for the 5G marketGovernments and regulators planning national 5G coverage mandatesContent delivery networks optimizing distribution to edge locations via satellite

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Telecommunications

enterprise

Target: Mobile network operators expanding rural or maritime coverage

If you are a mobile network operator struggling to provide 5G coverage in rural or remote areas where building cell towers is not economically viable — this project developed satellite-based backhaul solutions validated across 3 demonstration scenarios that let you extend your 5G network via satellite without your customers noticing any difference. The 16-partner consortium including 10 industry players already tested control and user plane integration.

Aviation & Maritime

enterprise

Target: In-flight connectivity or maritime broadband providers

If you are an airline or shipping company trying to offer reliable broadband to passengers and crew — this project ran an aircraft mobility trial demonstrating satellite-5G integration with caching and multicast capabilities. Instead of patchy, slow connections, your passengers get consistent 5G-grade service delivered through optimized satellite backhaul validated in real flight conditions.

Satellite Communications

enterprise

Target: Satellite operators seeking 5G market entry

If you are a satellite operator watching the 5G rollout and wondering how to get a piece of it — this project defined the business models and technical integration points for satellite companies to partner with mobile operators. With contributions to 3GPP and ETSI standards, the work provides a roadmap for positioning your satellite capacity as a native 5G backhaul option rather than a legacy workaround.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement satellite-5G backhaul integration?

The project's EU contribution amount is not available in the dataset, so specific R&D cost benchmarks cannot be provided. Implementation costs would depend on your existing satellite and terrestrial infrastructure. Contact the consortium partners for commercial pricing discussions.

Can this work at industrial scale across multiple regions?

The solution was designed specifically for scalability — addressing coverage in underserved and unserved areas, including emerging markets with low average revenue per user. The 10-country consortium with 10 industry partners validated the technology across multiple scenarios including fixed, mobile, and aircraft environments.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

As a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), IP generated is typically owned by the partners who created it, with access rights for other consortium members. With 16 partners across 10 countries, licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with specific technology owners. The standardization work contributed to 3GPP and ETSI is publicly accessible.

How does this handle satellite latency for real-time 5G applications?

The project specifically researched technologies to mitigate satellite latency constraints, which is called out as a key objective. Their solutions include content caching and multicast delivery to reduce the impact of round-trip delay. Performance results are documented in 25 deliverables including 3 dedicated demonstration reports.

Is this compatible with existing 5G standards?

Yes — a key feature of SaT5G was driving standardization in 3GPP and ETSI, building on efforts started in Q3 2015 by consortium partners. The project aimed to be the main vehicle for defining satellite integration in the 3GPP 5G standard, meaning the technology aligns with the specifications that network equipment vendors already follow.

What was actually demonstrated and validated?

Three demonstrations were completed: an aircraft mobility trial with satellite-5G backhaul, a domestic and campus scenario testing content optimization performance, and a validation of 5G control and user plane harmonization. Each produced detailed performance reports with measured KPIs.

Consortium

Who built it

The SaT5G consortium is unusually strong for commercial follow-through: 10 out of 16 partners are from industry (62%), spanning the full satellite-to-mobile value chain across 10 countries. The coordinator, Avanti Communications, is a UK-based commercial satellite operator (and SME), meaning the project was led by a company with direct market skin in the game — not an academic institution. With 3 SMEs, 2 universities, and 3 research centers rounding out the team, plus an External Advisory Board of mobile operators and satellite companies, this consortium was built to produce deployable technology, not just papers.

AVANTI COMMUNICATIONS LTDCoordinator · UK
SES TECHCOM SAparticipant · LU
OULUN YLIOPISTOparticipant · FI
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
ST ENGINEERING IDIRECT (IRELAND) LIMITEDparticipant · IE
INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUMparticipant · BE
AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SASparticipant · FR
EKINOPS FRANCEparticipant · FR
BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLCparticipant · UK
THALES ALENIA SPACE FRANCE SASparticipant · FR
BROADPEAKparticipant · FR
GILAT SATELLITE NETWORKS LTDparticipant · IL
SAFRAN PASSENGER INNOVATIONS GERMANY GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITY OF SURREYparticipant · UK
FUNDACIO PRIVADA I2CAT, INTERNET I INNOVACIO DIGITAL A CATALUNYAparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Avanti Communications Ltd (UK) — commercial satellite operator and project coordinator. Contact via company website for technology licensing or partnership discussions.

Order a report on this consortium See AVANTI COMMUNICATIONS LTD profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the SaT5G team about satellite-5G backhaul solutions for your network? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the right consortium partner for your use case.

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