ESA 6G Innovation Challenge Winner Announced
Joint Project by Keysight Technologies and Sateliot Takes Prize
The winner of the fifth annual European Space Agency (ESA) and GSMA Foundry Innovation Challenge has been revealed. A joint project offered by Keysight Technologies and Sateliot titled “Blockchain-enabled anomaly detection end‑to‑end solution for 5G Non‑Terrestrial Networks” supports secure and reliable satellite-terrestrial integration for future 3GPP non-terrestrial networks.
“Through these challenges, ESA aims to accelerate technologies that give Europe an edge.”
Antonio Franchi, ESA
The award, presented at Mobile World Congress 2026, Barcelona, recognizes early-stage 6G innovation, supporting 6G development and non-terrestrial network (NTN) integration.
The funding opportunity – provided by ESA Member States – was made possible through ESA’s Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity line, within the program of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES).
“Through these challenges, ESA aims to accelerate technologies that give Europe an edge,” said Antonio Franchi, Head of the Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity program at the ESA. “Keysight and Sateliot demonstrate exactly this with a solution that tackles a critical need for future 5G and 6G networks by strengthening trust in network performance, improving resilience, and supporting the smooth integration of satellite and terrestrial systems.”
The challenge was introduced last year and focused on fostering 6G innovation, with a particular emphasis on satellite-terrestrial convergence in line with the latest recommendations from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The program’s objective is to advance innovation and validate technical solutions that integrate satellite systems with terrestrial networks to enable ubiquitous connectivity and high-performance communications.
The Keysight and Sateliot proposal integrates blockchain, artificial intelligence, and machine learning with digital calibration certificates to enable traceable calibration from satellite manufacturing through to network operation. By enabling greater satellite autonomy, the joint solution is designed to optimize network reliability, maximize uptime, and enable rapid detection and response to performance issues.
“Our collaboration with Sateliot demonstrates how advanced test, measurement, and AI‑driven analytics can bring unprecedented visibility into hybrid space-terrestrial networks,” said Eric Taylor, VP, Aerospace, Defense and Government Solutions at Keysight. “By enabling verifiable performance and real‑time anomaly detection, we are helping operators accelerate the deployment of resilient, standards‑based NTN services worldwide.”
“Together with Keysight, we have demonstrated that Sateliot not only offers global connectivity but also leads the way in the resilience and operational autonomy necessary to transform space into a secure infrastructure,” said Albert Pujol, CIO at Sateliot.
By ensuring device trust, network integrity, and real‑time anomaly detection across hybrid space-terrestrial segments, the joint project is designed to help operators and enterprises prepare for commercial NTN deployments. The project also aligns with ESA’s ARTES program, as it looks to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.