New technology trends to shape GOVSATCOM

Date: December 20, 2021
Category: News
Autor: Ewelina Kaatz-Drzeżdżon

The ENTRUSTED Consortium has launched online consultations with the European satellite communication industry. The survey is addressed to all technology and research players in the European space sector who can share information about new trends and research conducted in the field of secure and sustainable SatCom services. Survey results will provide insights for the mapping of future trends, identification of key technological factors, and the definition of a Research and Innovation (R&I) roadmap for secure SatCom user technology. Feedback from the industry will be collected until the end of January 2022.

Governmental and institutional entities need to rely on satellite communications (SatCom) in many critical situations. SatCom is an essential capability when terrestrial communication systems are not available and communication links need to be ensured and secured. One of the EU Space Programme 2021-2027 components, namely the Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM), is dedicated to secure, reliable and cost-effective satellite communication services for governmental and institutional users. A user-oriented GOVSATCOM initiative is being supported by preparatory activities, including a Horizon 2020 research project implemented by the ENTRUSTED Consortium, which associates organisations representing EU Member States and EU entities.

Research conducted within the ENTRUSTED project aims at achieving a common understanding of governmental user needs for secure SatCom systems and creating a consolidated set of user requirements for GOVSATCOM. These findings will be compared with information obtained from the analysis of the state-of-the-art technologies and new trends in secure SatCom systems and services suitable for governmental users in Europe. In the next step, a capability gap analysis will be carried out to indicate necessary research, development and innovation (RD&I) activities related to user SatCom technology and services that need to be made available within the EU supply chain in the coming years.

The ENTRUSTED Consortium is seeking feedback from technology and research players on new trends in the field of secure and sustainable SatCom services that address such aspects as security, robustness, resilience, integrity, interoperability, the EU strategic autonomy – in addition to typical SatCom challenges. The online survey consists of questions related to the foreseen SatCom evolution, secure communications technologies for the next generation of GOVSATCOM systems, priority topics for secure SatCom RD&I activities, and ongoing research projects.

Information obtained from respondents will provide insights for the development of project outputs, in particular, in mapping the future trends, identifying key technological factors, and defining a R&I roadmap for secure SatCom user technology. The roadmap will identify and prioritise actions necessary to fill the gaps between SatCom capabilities and established user requirements. Survey answers will be treated in an anonymous way, but the participation in consultations will be acknowledged on the ENTRUSTED website and in relevant deliverables.

Take part in setting a scene for the next generation of GOVSATCOM systems! More information about the survey can be found here.