Projet FOCAL (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Doctoral Networks
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

With currently 3 billion people lacking access to broadband internet worldwide, European operators are struggling to fill the white areas with insufficient or nonexistent connectivity. In light of the early promises of 6G wireless networks, it is tempting to consider non-terrestrial networks as complementary to the ground-based radio and fiber infrastructure. However, radio frequency-based satellite systems are nearing their capacity limits and cannot be scaled further. Free-space optical technology is a natural alternative to deliver greater capacity and to better address data security needs by leveraging quantum communications. The first optical intersatellite links are being deployed in commercial networks at relatively low data rate (10 Gbps). However, once the most important remaining research challenges are resolved, they could rapidly expand and serve as a catalyst for the development of a new communication backbone in the sky, consisting of aerial and space optical nodes at different altitudes. The overarching aim of the FOCAL project is to train a new generation of highly qualified doctoral candidates in developing innovative aerial and space optical wireless technologies that will provide future telecommunication networks with ubiquitous connectivity, resilience, and quantum-proof security. In addition to contributing to the fundamental understanding and technical know-how of such networks through co-supervised individual research projects, FOCAL will train talented and innovative researchers with multidisciplinary expertise and skills that are desirable in this European industrial sector. This will be achieved through a combination of theoretical and hands-on research training provided by a unique consortium of 16 academic and 10 industrial partners from 8 countries, resulting in collaborative research including co-supervision and secondments, as well as transferable training skills, which is necessary for prosperous careers in this prominent R&I area.

Mots clés : non terrestrial networks free space optical communications network architecture design resilient communication links quantum secure communication quantum key distribution global coverage for 6g

Participants :
- Thales alenia space France (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 282693.6 €
- Cailabs (France) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Airbus (Netherlands) (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 274370.4 €
- Nokia networks France (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 282693.6 €
- Université de technologie d'Eindhoven (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 260539.2 €
- Université d'Aalborg (Danemark) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université Friedrich-Alexander d'Erlangen-Nuremberg (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 260539.2 €
- Université de Padoue (Italie) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université Aalto (Finlande) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 286488.0 €
- Thrane & thrane as (Danemark) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Centrale Méditerranée (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 565387.2 €
- Tesat-spacecom gmbh & co.kg (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 260539.2 €
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 260539.2 €
- Université d'Édimbourg (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 274370.4 €
- Université technique Carolo-Wilhelmina de Brunswick (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université Louis-et-Maximilien de Munich (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Archangel lightworks ltd (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Northumbria (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Nokia (Danemark) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 301788.0 €
- Thinkquantum srl (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 259437.6 €
- Université technique de Berlin (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- National institute of information and communications technology (Japon) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Iceye oy (Finlande) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Bordeaux (France) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €