GSMA and ESA Unveil €100M Funding for AI, NTN, D2D, and 6G at MWC26

GSMA Foundry, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), announced a new funding initiative worth up to €100 million. The funding aims to support technological innovations in the convergence of space and mobile industries, focusing on AI for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity, and 6G advancements. This initiative, revealed at MWC26 Barcelona, seeks to enhance hybrid network infrastructure development, ensuring seamless global connectivity by integrating satellite and terrestrial elements.

The funding will be directed towards four main areas: AI x NTN, D2D connectivity, 5G/6G Hubs, and 6G Innovation. ESA highlights the support from its Member States as crucial for this collaboration. Laurent Jaffart from ESA and Alex Sinclair from GSMA both emphasized that the initiative marks a significant step in digital transformation, aiming to provide universal connectivity.

MWC26 features a showcase of live demonstrations, emphasizing the practical applications and potential of this initiative. Companies like Nokia RXRM and MediaTek participate, highlighting the role of hybrid networks in future technological landscapes.