Partner Newsletter September 2024

Increasing sustainable earning capacity is one of the most important objectives of the Future Network Services program. SEO Amsterdam Economics (SEO) is supporting FNS in assessing the economic and societal impact of 6G technology up to 2040. The objective of this research is to provide a solid, quantitative foundation for the anticipated impact, focusing on three key dimensions: sustainable earning capacity, strategic digital autonomy, and sustainability.

To facilitate this quantitative analysis, SEO is developing a socioeconomic model that links the deployment of resources, such as labour and capital, to the aforementioned dimensions. To accurately shape this model, we wish to engage with FNS Partners to gain deeper insights into the industry. For this purpose, SEO will be organizing group discussions, which will be conducted per program line in September. You may therefore be approached to participate in these talks.

For more information, please contact Geerd Kakes or  Marcel Geurts.

We once more want to draw your attention to the Customized Decision (subsidy decision), the corresponding payment scheme, and an official memo of the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate regarding knowledge security. You can find these documents  on the General FNS SharePoint via this link.They are also attached to this newsletter.

In addition to the clauses in our FNS Consortium Agreement, every FNS Consortium Partner that receives subsidy needs to be compliant to the subsidy requirements. We strongly recommend that you study these carefully, see chapter 2 of the Customized Decision. Note that paragraph 3.7 of chapter 2 contains requirements regarding - inter alia - IPR, sensitive information, the location of resources and other economic security matters that are more stringent than the provisions in the Consortium Agreement.

Please be aware and make sure your organization can comply with the subsidy requirements.

On November 20th we will organise a new Future Network Services Partner Event.

Date: November 20th, 2024

Location: Spoorwegmuseum, Utrecht

Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM, a lunch will be provided at 12.00 PM

During this event, we will share the updates on our 6G FNS program, including the progress, planning, and upcoming steps, like we did in May. Most of the afternoon will feature a number of  parallel sessions focusing on specific topics relevant to the program like JCAS or Testbeds. Additionally, you'll have the chance to interact with the PhD candidates as they present their research posters.

In the morning, we will organize specialized break-out meetings for targeted audiences.

You will receive a separate e-mail with more information and the possibility to register for the event.

It still seems far away, but in about six months' time in the week of 3-6 March 2025, the Mobile World Congress will again take place in Barcelona. This time too, like last year, with a large Dutch pavilion, where several Dutch companies will present themselves. The FNS program will be part of the Dutch delegation coordinated by Ecosystem Services. In addition, FNS will support the participation of a number of startups within the FY4N program, coordinated for the Netherlands by Innovation Quarter.

We see Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as an excellent opportunity to create more visibility for the FNS program and establish new contacts in an international context. Therefore we will be organising various activities for partners during Mobile World Congress, just like last year. Besides a dinner, we are hosting several visits to the FNS partners who have a stand on the MWC exhibition floor.

In the coming months, we will share more info on planned activities and an opportunity to sign up for participation.

If you are interested in attending, please make a note of 3-6 March 2025 in your diary, for a visit to MWC25 in Barcelona. If you would like to know more about the possibilities to participate, please contact Paul.wijngaard@tno.nl

International cooperation is one of the key pillars of our program. Join us during the trade and innovation mission to the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, from May 18th to May 28^th. The Netherlands will showcase its leadership in innovation and digital transformation. Our participation will support the High Tech and Digitalization (HTDX) track, focusing on advanced technologies like AI, 5G/6G, and semiconductors. This trade and innovation mission will offer a unique opportunity to forge strategic partnerships, enhance bilateral relations with Japan, and formalize an innovation pact.

If you are interested to participate in this trade and innovation mission, please share your ideas and suggestions for collaboration with us:

• We seek your feedback on potential collaborations with Japanese counterparts which could be interesting for your company and/or for your FNS Work Package or Task? Do you already have specific companies or organizations in mind?
• Are you interested to contribute to the development of this trade and innovation mission and if so, what kind of contributions would you like to make?

Any suggestions are welcome. Please send your responses to paul.wijngaard@tno.nl

At the 3GPP megameeting on 19-23 August 2024 in Maastricht, the 3GPP SA1 - Services Working Group agreed a study item on 6G use cases and service requirements. The study item is part of the 3GPP Release 20 work and is expected to produce its final results by March 2026.

During the 3GPP SA1 workshop on use cases in Rotterdam in May 2024, several operator organizations, industry associations and research programs presented their work on 6G use cases to 3GPP SA1. Now 3GPP SA1 is going to use all the material received to write its own Technical Report with use cases. Each use case will be supplemented with potential requirements to enable the 3GPP system to support the use case. At the end of the study all these potential requirements will be consolidated into an overall set of requirements for all use cases. The study will also consider operational aspects that underpin the overall operations of 6G networks. These aspects include for example migration scenarios, roaming and interconnection, security, privacy and resilience, sustainability and energy efficiency and support for legacy services.

The Technical Report on use cases and service requirements will be input for subsequent work on normative service requirements for 6G. However, the use cases will also be input for studies in 3GPP SA2 - system architecture and 3GPP RAN - Radio Access Network. These studies will start in the second half of 2025. 3GPP SA1 will attempt to provide some intermediate conclusions on dedicated topics before the start of the 3GPP SA2 and 3GPP RAN work and potentially even before the 3GPP RAN and SA 6G workshops in the first quarter of 2025.

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) is considered to be a key enabler for 6G cellular networks. Two major standardization bodies, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), are currently establishing the frameworks that will shape the future development of this technology.

ISAC in ETSI

The ETSI Industry Specification Group (ISG) on ISAC is a pre-standardization group that enables ETSI members to coordinate their pre-standards research efforts on ISAC technology. This coordination spans various EU and national funded collaborative projects and extends to relevant global initiatives, ultimately paving the way for 6G standardization.

Since early 2024, TNO has been actively participating in this group as part of FNS Program Line 4, focusing on work item (WI)#1: ‘ISAC Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios’, and WI#3: ‘System and RAN Architectures for ISAC’. TNO has been appointed as the liaison officer to 3GPP Service and System Aspects working group 1 (SA1) within this ISG. So far, TNO has introduced two FNS use cases and their corresponding requirements in the Group Report of ETSI ISAC WI#1. In the coming period, TNO plans to continue contributing the FNS perspective to this group and disseminating the group’s developments among FNS partners.

ISAC in 3GPP

Since the start of this year, the 3GPP Radio Access Network working group 1 (RAN1), which focuses on physical layer interfaces, has started a study item on ISAC. The ISAC framework is being defined in order to detect and/or track objects, such as UAVs, humans, automotive vehicles, automated guided vehicles and objects creating hazards on roads/railways.

During the recent 3GPP Mega meeting in Maastricht, delegates from different continents provided their inputs on the ISAC deployment scenarios and the ISAC channel model. In the upcoming 3GPP meetings, TNO plans to bring in the FNS view.

For the realization of new 6G network products and services, as well as for the development of new digital applications using 6G, startups are essential. Within the program, there are innovation vouchers available for promising ideas within the FNS domain. This is a €25k voucher for technical validation and business development in the academic phase.

Four vouchers have now been awarded to the following initiatives:

1. Efficient heat dissipation for active phased array radar systems with a 3D-printed heat pipe array

StarWarden is a spin-off of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) developing a patented cooling technology called the 3D-printed Heat Pipe Array. The 3D-printed Heat Pipe Array is able to dissipate very intense heat from a small surface area.

Preparation of an ammonia 3D-printed Heat Pipe Array is not straightforward due to its boiling point (- 33°C at atmospheric pressure). StarWarden is pursuing the development of a special equipment able to charge of a working fluid such ammonia into the pipes (at very high vacuum conditions) followed by the sealing of the pipe. The budget of this FNS voucher would support StarWarden completing the development of the equipment focusing the vacuum induction brazing functionality.

2. Load-Modulated Linearization and Amplification System for Telecom

The load-modulated lineariser (LML) developed at the University of Twente uses two control amplifiers to linearize the output of a nonlinear amplifier operating in strong compression, allowing higher power output while maintaining linearity. This approach, which absorbs unwanted distortion through active load modulation, is less computationally complex than input-based techniques and can be applied across various technologies and topologies.

The voucher budget will be allocated to advancing the business case by analyzing competition, conducting market and customer validation, and identifying the LML's technology differentiation. It will also involve defining a business model and drafting initial financial estimates for a profitable operation.

3. Extraterrestrial Communications Systems (ECS)

ECS, a future spin-off from TU Delft, aims to be a key enabler in the Dutch and European space sectors by providing essential infrastructure and innovations in ground-to-satellite communications. Its core mission is to enhance ground-to-space connectivity, fostering an environment where space technology can evolve rapidly without being constrained by foundational infrastructure.

The voucher will be used to achieve the first major milestone: setting up a VHF/UHF ground station at Unmanned Valley in cooperation with Do IoT Fieldlab, which ECS will use to offer Groundstation As A Service. Before ECS can operate the MVP ground station, it needs to finalize technical details such as location and frequencies, submit a license request, and proceed with construction.

4. Climate-controlled chamber created from RF-transparent material for characterizing electromagnetic structures and materials at mm-wave frequencies

This is a project of of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) developing the creation of a climate-controlled environment within existing OTA measurement facilities, allowing devices or materials to be tested under various climatic conditions. It also supports both device characterization and channel measurements in these environments.

The voucher will be used to conduct a technology landscaping analysis to assess technology trends, patent strength, and competitive positioning. It will also be used to conduct a market study to evaluate product viability through focus groups and explore potential collaborations with FNS partners.

Before the summer, we have shared an FNS manual with chapters on finance, reporting and communication. This document is intended as an up-to-date and compact reference for any consortium member looking for more information on a specific topic. It also contains relevant links to documents on the general FNS SharePoint.

A new version of the manual is available. We would like to bring this document to your attention once again. You can find the manual on the SharePoint behind this link.