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5G EMERGE

Ongoing
Space for 5G

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Supported by our Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity programme, 5G-EMERGE – which is led by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – represents an effort to rethink media distribution in an era of ubiquitous connectivity.


The project aims to do so by integrating satellite and terrestrial 5G/6G infrastructures into a seamless media-delivery ecosystem, based on open standards. The upshot will be scalable, high-quality media distribution to a variety of endpoints: homes, vehicles, network edges, and even direct-to-device.

By fusing satellite distribution, edge computing, and 5G infrastructure, it tackles both the technological and economic challenges of reaching users everywhere, with high quality and resilience. As use-cases evolve from homes and vehicles to devices and interactive services, the project charts a course for how Europe – and potentially beyond – will deliver content and connectivity in the next decade. 

The success of 5G-EMERGE could catalyse broader adoption of integrated space-terrestrial networks, helping to realise the vision of seamless global connectivity.


Consortium and industrial collaboration


The 5G-EMERGE project brings together a diverse consortium of key players from across Europe, combining expertise from the space, telecommunications, and media sectors under the coordination of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

5G-EMERGE is a broad consortium involving dozens of companies across Europe. In Phase 1 25 organisations participated, while Phase 2 expanded to 34 companies, and across eight Member States including Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Finland. 


Features of 5G-EMERGE


The architecture envisaged for 5G-EMERGE includes several layers and key elements:

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A satellite backhaul layer
Satellites transmit content (popular media streams) to teleports, home gateways or edge nodes.
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Edge nodes
These may reside in 5G base stations, micro-data centres, home gateways, vehicles etc. They host caching, content delivery logic, service orchestration, and the interface to end-users.
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Service provisioning layer / orchestration
Because the system is multi-tenant and must support distributed edges and satellite links, the project investigates the interfaces, service discovery, orchestration, caching optimisation, QoS/security layers.
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Integration with standards
The work leans heavily on 3GPP standards for terrestrial 5G/6G, as well as satellite standards. Phase 2 explores New Radio-Non-Terrestrial Network (NR-NTN), direct satellite-to-device connectivity, multicast/broadcast over 5G.
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Open IP-based system
The ecosystem uses native-IP protocols to enable flexibility and interoperability.

Use cases of 5G-EMERGE

The core value proposition of 5G-EMERGE is that satellite distribution can efficiently deliver popular content (live events, on-demand) to many users simultaneously, while terrestrial edges (including 5G base stations, home gateways, localized caches) handle the “last-mile” delivery and interactive functions.

Use-cases include:

Direct-to-home (DTH)
Satellites deliver high-quality media content directly to homes, complementing or enhancing terrestrial broadband and broadcast services. By combining satellite multicast/broadcast with 5G unicast delivery, users can enjoy seamless video streaming, ultra-high-definition television, and interactive content even in areas with limited terrestrial coverage. This hybrid model also reduces strain on terrestrial backhaul networks by offloading popular content to satellite links.
Direct-to-vehicle (DTV)
Focuses on enabling connected cars, buses, trains, and other vehicles to receive content directly from satellites. Vehicles can pre-cache or stream live content such as news, entertainment, navigation updates, and critical software patches. This approach ensures connectivity on the move – especially in rural or cross-border areas where terrestrial 5G coverage is inconsistent – and supports emerging automotive services like in-car infotainment, over-the-air updates, and intelligent transport systems (ITS).
Direct-to-edge (DTE)
Satellites distribute content to 5G edge nodes, such as local data centres, base stations (gNodeBs), or micro-edge servers. These edge nodes then serve end-users through terrestrial 5G networks. This model is highly efficient for content delivery networks (CDNs), allowing popular or time-sensitive content to be pre-positioned closer to users, reducing latency and network congestion. It is particularly useful for live events, VR/AR applications, and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) scenarios that demand low-latency access to large data volumes.
Direct-to-device (D2D)
In the D2D use case – planned for Phase 2 of 5G-EMERGE – mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and IoT terminals will receive data directly from satellites integrated into 5G standards. This allows end-users to receive broadcast or multicast services without relying on terrestrial infrastructure. It has major implications for public safety, emergency alerts, rural connectivity, and content delivery in remote or maritime regions.
Content distribution and edge caching
One of the broader use cases across all categories is hybrid content distribution, where popular or time-critical content (for example, video-on-demand, live sports, or software updates) is delivered by satellite to edge nodes or devices, then distributed locally through 5G. This significantly enhances network efficiency and user experience, while enabling new business models for media service providers.
Network Resilience and emergency communications
Another emerging use case involves disaster recovery and emergency communication services. When terrestrial networks are congested, damaged, or unavailable (for example, during natural disasters or major public events), satellite links in the 5G-EMERGE system can maintain continuity of service, ensuring critical information and connectivity remain available.
Industrial and rural connectivity
5G-EMERGE also supports industrial IoT and smart rural applications, where hybrid connectivity ensures reliable communication for remote operations, agriculture, energy infrastructure, and environmental monitoring. The satellite component guarantees coverage and data transfer capabilities even in isolated or infrastructure-poor areas.

RELATED LINKS & CONTACS

CONTACT

Antonio Franchi


ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT)

Fermi Avenue

Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FD, United Kingdom

+44 (0)7775 426521

Antonio.Franchi@esa.int

Documents

Overview page

Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES)

Overview page

Space for 5G

Overview page