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At MWC Barcelona 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) and GSMA Foundry unveiled three innovation challenges aimed at integrating satellite and terrestrial networks. The challenges focus on advancing direct-to-device (D2D), fostering 6G innovation, establishing 5G/6G testing hubs, and integrating fixed and mobile networks – key areas for achieving reliable, seamless connectivity on a global scale.

General Benefits for Applicants: 

1. Access to substantial funding to develop cutting-edge technologies. The minimum co-funding amount to be applied for is 500k€.

2. Opportunities to collaborate with leading organisations in the telecoms and space sectors. 

3. Potential for global impact by addressing critical connectivity challenges such as bridging the digital divide and supporting sustainable development. 

4. Project eligible to be showcased on MWC event showcase 

Applicants are encouraged to submit expressions of interest that demonstrate technical feasibility, scalability, alignment with international standards (e.g., 3GPP), and potential for commercialisation. These challenges represent a unique opportunity to shape the future of global connectivity through innovative satellite-terrestrial solutions. 

Application process:  

• Expressions of interest and project proposals to be submitted by 31 December 2025. Only companies that have a legal entity in the following countries are eligible to apply: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, UK.
• ESA and GSMA will jointly review all applications.
• Projects initiated before 31st December 2025 will be eligible for showcase at MWC 2026

The challenges are run in partnership with ESA and accepted ideas will be guided towards the most relevant ESA programme. Before submitting your application, we advise you to speak with the ESA Member State Delegate in your respective country.

Please reach out to foundry@gsma.com and 5g@esa.int for any questions regarding the challenges and application process.

Below are expanded descriptions of each challenge, including key details that will benefit potential applicants: 

Challenge 1: Direct-to-Device Connectivity

This challenge will foster innovation in direct-to-device communications, enabling mobile devices to connect directly to satellites without the need for ground infrastructure. The aim is to enhance global coverage, especially in remote and underserved regions, with a preference for standardised solutions rather than proprietary.   

Key Details: 

• Objective: Develop solutions that allow standard mobile devices to connect seamlessly with satellites, prioritising standardised approaches over proprietary systems. 

• Target Applications: Emergency response in disaster-prone areas, expanded roaming services for unconnected regions, and IoT device integration for industries like agriculture and logistics. 

• Technological Scope: Solutions should align with 3GPP standards (from Releases 17 onwards), which have made direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity scalable for smartphones and IoT devices. 

• Industry Context: Applicants are encouraged to address issues like latency, handover, capabilities beyond messages, power efficiency, indoor coverage limitations, and capacity constraints. 

Challenge 2: 6G Innovation

This challenge will focus on early-stage 6G technologies, emphasizing areas where satellite-terrestrial convergence will play a critical role in line with the latest recommendations of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Use cases such as ultra-low latency applications, advanced IoT, and edge intelligence will be key targets for innovation. 

Key Details: 

• Objective: Foster innovation and validate technical solutions for future 3GPP releases that integrate satellite systems with terrestrial networks to ensure ubiquitous coverage and high performance. 

• Use Cases: examples are autonomous vehicles, telemedicine, smart cities, industrial IoT,  massive IoT (MIoT), and real-time applications requiring ultra-low latency. 

• Technological Scope: Applicants should explore in-orbit laboratories or testbeds to validate end-to-end connectivity and interoperability between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (TN-NTN).

• Standardisation: Support toward 3GPP standardisation will be highly valued. This includes testing NTN functionalities for future telecommunication standards expected in the early 2030s. 

Challenge 3: 5G/6G hubs

This challenge aims to create hybrid hubs that integrate terrestrial and satellite infrastructures. These hubs will act as platforms for testing and demonstrating TN-NTN convergence. 

Key Details: 

• Objective: Develop multi-functional hubs based on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) model at Harwell Science Campus. These hubs will serve as centers for innovation in hybrid connectivity solutions. 

• Use cases: examples are autonomous transport systems, next-generation logistics, smart cities, public safety networks, and environmental monitoring. 

• Technological Scope: Proposals should include plans for integrating TN with satellite communications. Demonstrations of real-world applications using these hubs will be critical. 

• Collaboration Opportunities: The hubs will provide a collaborative environment for academia, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to test new technologies. This includes engineering demonstrations and events showcasing the potential of TN-NTN integration. 

Challenge 4: Fixed Mobile Convergence for TN-NTN Networks

This challenge invites solutions that enable seamless integration between fixed (broadband/fibre) and mobile (cellular/satellite) networks, fostering a unified user experience across terrestrial and non-terrestrial infrastructures. The aim is to break down barriers between connectivity types, enabling continuous, high-quality service delivery in both urban and rural or underserved environments.  

Key Details: 

• Objective: Develop architectures and technologies that unify fixed and mobile networks across terrestrial and satellite domains, allowing seamless service continuity and interoperability.  

• Applications: Smart home and industrial automation, remote healthcare, connected rural education, resilient enterprise networks, maritime and offshore connectivity.  

• Technological Scope:
  • Converged core network strategies supporting both fixed and mobile access via TN and NTN.
  • Seamless handover mechanisms and session continuity across access types.
  • Support for edge/cloud-native services and network slicing across fixed/mobile infrastructure.
  • Alignment with relevant 3GPP releases. 

• Collaboration Opportunities: Encourages partnerships among ISPs, mobile operators, satellite providers, cloud platforms, and academic institutions to test and validate converged networks in real-world or simulated hybrid environments.

Expression of Interest Form

Thank you for your interest in the ESA and GSMA Foundry Funding Opportunities. Unfortunately, the application deadline has now passed, and we are no longer accepting submissions. We’ll be announcing new challenges during MWC Barcelona 2026. In the meantime, you can reach out to us on foundry@gsma.com 

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Timelines for the joint GSMA and ESA challenges (2025):

(Please note: This does not include the ESA application process. Please see ESA guidance for further details)

1. Challenges open: 5 March 2025
2. Deadline for submissions of Expression of Interest – Cohort 3: 31 December 2025 at 12 noon CET

*Only companies that have a legal entity in the following countries are eligible to apply: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK

Any questions about these challenges should be submitted to foundry@gsma.com and 5g@esa.int