DT Announces 6G Advances Using 3D Networks

The 6G-TakeOff project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, successfully presented its results at a closing event at the University of Bremen. The project gained important insights into 3D networks and their key components.

These are three-dimensional networks where base stations on the ground are complemented by base stations aboard airborne platforms and satellites. Stations in the air offer the opportunity to provide additional network capacity temporarily and locally as needed. The project focused on the holistic view of a 3D network and the question of how the various network elements can be connected to each other in a unified 6G architecture.

By combining and intelligently coordinating the various access technologies, optimal access to connectivity is thus enabled for every application. The results of the project are an important part of basic research for so-called non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and will be incorporated into the standardization of the future generation of mobile communications.

From the very beginning, the consortium was designed to integrate perspectives and innovations from a wide range of research and industry fields. This enabled close collaboration between the aerospace sector and the communications and software industries, as well as manufacturers, while facilitating the transfer from the academic environment to the industrial context. Led by Deutsche Telekom, the research consortium brought together a total of 19 partners.

The consortium developed several demonstrators to test the feasibility of different solutions. The three-dimensional structure of the network was tested in a testbed at the University of Bremen. Using base stations on the ground, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the air, and satellite hardware on a 146-meter-high tower, the 3D network was simulated, and the handover of a moving device between network components was studied. The project was able to successfully demonstrate that edge computing is also possible for non-terrestrial networks.

UAVs must be connected to the core network on the ground via so-called feeder links. These links enable high-rate data transmission between ground stations and UAVs. Beamforming antennas are required for this purpose. They direct radio waves in a targeted manner rather than spreading them broadly, thereby improving signal strength and range. In 6G-TakeOff, novel antenna designs were developed and tested. Additionally, new methods for beam steering, which involve precisely aligning ground station antennas with moving UAVs, were developed.

After three years, the research project looks back on an impressive record. In addition to the demonstrators, seven patent applications highlight the innovation potential of the consortium. “The 6G-TakeOff project has helped us better understand the practical challenges of integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial components into a unified 3D communication framework. It offers valuable insights on how future 6G systems could improve service continuity, resilience, and capacity wherever needed. The project has laid a strong foundation for further cross-industry cooperation towards 6G,” said Thomas Lips, SVP RAN Disaggregation & Enablement at Deutsche Telekom.