Research Facilities 6GStarLab In-orbit lab to support R&D at NTN Learn more at UNICO I+D 6G Know more 6GStarLab is an experimentation infrastructure promoted by i2CAT to validate new space communication technologies linked to Advanced 5G and future 6G. It offers a real platform, in orbit and on the ground, allowing for the testing of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) under representative operating conditions. The project combines a CubeSat satellite with radio frequency payloads and optical terminals, positioning the ecosystem at the forefront of the integration between terrestrial and space networks. Featured Equipment 6U CubeSat satellite for in-orbit experimentation. Two Minerva SDR modules on board as radio payloads. Multi-band front-ends for experimentation in UHF/LoRa, S, X, and Ka. On-board laser terminal for optical communications experimentation. Terrestrial optical station for space-to-ground laser communication link and characterization. Ka-band ground station to support high-frequency experiments. Key Technologies Validation of 6G technologies in NTN environments. Virtualization and flexible deployment of network functions in space. Multi-band satellite and high-speed optical communications. Regenerative and reconfigurable payloads in orbit. Advanced protocols for high-latency environments (DTN). Use Cases Experimentation with new 6G protocols for NTN: 6GStarLab will allow testing of new 6G protocols and communication mechanisms designed for non-terrestrial networks. This includes techniques to improve the integration between satellites and terrestrial networks. The goal is to validate their operation in a real environment and not just in a laboratory. Virtualization and flexible payloads in orbit: The mission will serve to demonstrate the concept of a flexible and reconfigurable payload developed by i2CAT. This will allow the behavior of the payload to be adapted to the needs of the experiment or the user. It is a key capability for future, more dynamic and programmable NTN infrastructures. Development of regenerative payloads: The laboratory will facilitate the validation of payloads capable of processing information on board, instead of being limited to retransmitting signals. This opens the door to smarter and more efficient satellites. it also allows for the study of new network architectures with greater autonomy in the space segment. Direct satellite-to-device communications: One of the planned use cases is experimentation with direct connectivity between LEO satellites and user devices. This type of service can be key to extending coverage in remote areas or those without terrestrial infrastructure. Its validation is highly relevant for the future of global connectivity. DTN protocols for intermittent communications: The infrastructure will allow for the validation of Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) protocols, designed for environments with high interruptions and delays. These technologies are particularly useful in space networks. Their experimentation will help improve resilience and service continuity. Validation of NB-IoT technologies over NTN: 6GStarLab will serve to test NB-IoT solutions adapted to the non-terrestrial environment. This includes experimentation with network functions, on-board elements, and access procedures. The goal is to facilitate future satellite IoT services interoperable with telecommunication standards. High-speed optical communications: The presence of an on-board laser terminal will allow for the testing of space-to-ground optical links. These communications offer high transmission capacity and are a strategic technology for future satellite missions. They will also allow for the characterization of the link’s behavior under different atmospheric and operational conditions.
