Airbus Tests Global 5G Connectivity in Orbit with SpaceRAN Demo
Airbus has launched a major initiative to test global 5G connectivity from space, aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of standardized, interoperable 5G services delivered via satellite. The project is being led by Airbus UpNext, Airbus’s advanced research arm, and focuses on next-generation 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) capabilities.
The technology demonstrator, known as SpaceRAN (Space Radio Access Network), is designed to explore how 5G NTN can deliver seamless global connectivity for commercial, defence, and government applications. Airbus said the system is intended to be fully standards-based and compatible with existing terrestrial networks, enabling integration across a wide range of business and public-sector use cases.
A key feature of SpaceRAN is its use of Airbus’s software-defined satellite technology. Unlike traditional satellites that simply relay signals, the SpaceRAN payload will process 5G data directly in orbit. This approach allows network functions to be reprogrammed from the ground after launch and is expected to reduce latency, increase data throughput, and improve routing efficiency. By handling data in space, Airbus aims to enable direct user-to-user connectivity without relying solely on ground infrastructure.
The project is being developed under Air!5G, a research programme supported by the French government through the France 2030 investment plan as part of its Future Networks strategy. Airbus expects the demonstrator to deliver initial results by 2028 and believes the work will play a critical role in shaping the evolution toward sixth-generation wireless technology (6G). Over time, the company also sees potential for the technology to lower the cost of orbital data transmission.
To support the effort, Airbus has assembled a broad international consortium that includes Aalyria, AccelerComm, CesiumAstro, Deutsche Telekom, Eutelsat, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Keysight Technologies, Onati, Radisys, Sener, and ST Engineering iDirect.
The partners have developed two complementary end-to-end test platforms. The ground-based testbed is designed to accurately simulate Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite behaviour, focusing on inter-satellite data transfer, routing, and network management. In parallel, an in-orbit payload will be deployed on an Airbus LEO satellite, acting as a regenerative 5G base station in space and connecting terrestrial and airborne users, including aircraft.
Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext, said the technology could unlock significant benefits across multiple sectors. For commercial aviation, he noted, orbital 5G could enhance operational efficiency, improve interoperability, and support richer passenger connectivity. For defence and government users, the system aims to deliver more resilient and secure communications, improving situational awareness and enabling faster, real-time decision-making.
The SpaceRAN programme underscores Airbus’s ambition to position satellite-based 5G as a foundational component of future global communications networks.
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