Project 3D-NET

Abstract

Today, nearly 2 billion people remain without access to mobile connectivity services, and only 10% of the world’s landmass is covered by cellular or fibre infrastructure. While satellite communications can technically provide global mobile network coverage, current solutions require dedicated user terminals, are costly, and support only a limited number of users. Moreover, ensuring continuous and ubiquitous connectivity—particularly for real-time, delay-sensitive, and mission-critical services—remains a major challenge. Terrestrial networks alone cannot offer the homogeneous coverage and ultra-reliable, low-latency communication needed for such use cases, especially outside urban hotspots. To address these limitations, the integration of Terrestrial Networks (TNs), Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), and airspace networks is essential for achieving seamless connectivity for both ground and aerial users. Although initial work has begun on integrating TNs, airspace, and NTNs, critical gaps remain in developing a unified, validated, and standard-compliant network architecture. In addition, global coordination with fixed networks is needed to ensure service continuity across all domains.

This proposal targets a European-level approach to address these challenges, with the following technical goals:
(i) a unified 3D architecture integrating TN, NTN, and airspace networks with joint resource optimization;
(ii) energy efficiency across ground, air, and space segments;
(iii) seamless vertical and horizontal handovers for reliable connectivity;
(iv) robust positioning, sensing, and localization via integrated networks;
(v) real-time and non-real-time computing and caching services;
(vi) support for Internet of Remote Things (IoRT) and critical industrial applications in infrastructure-less areas;
(vii) high-reliability, high-data-rate services for mobile users from ground to sky;
(viii) enabling digitalization of future mobility through global coverage;
(ix) technology demonstrations adapted to TRLs; and
(x) standardization and regulatory compliance.

The project will leverage outcomes from 6G-SKY (CELTIC-NEXT), 6G-TakeOff (BMBF), and the Air Mobility Initiative (Bavarian Ministry).