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pen Cosmos and i2CAT announced yesterday at the Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2025 the launch of Europe’s first Low Earth Orbit (LEO) lab for research and development in non-terrestrial networks (NTN). This groundbreaking mission involves the 6GStarLab, a satellite designed to experimentally validate new communication technologies in space, contributing to the standardization of NTN, which is crucial for advanced 5G evolution and future 6G.
The 6GStarLab will enable i2CAT researchers and its ecosystem to validate technological developments in orbit, accelerating satellite network research and its integration with terrestrial infrastructure. Specifically, the lab will facilitate the study and validation of virtualization techniques for satellite infrastructure and the evaluation of 6G communication frequencies using multi-frequency devices, and it will incorporate an optical terminal to enhance satellite-to-ground communications.
The 6GStarLab will function as an open, flexible testbed, allowing remote deployment and execution of experiments, fostering innovation in the emerging ecosystem working on terrestrial and non-terrestrial network interconnection.
At the official presentation event, Albert Tort, Secretary for Telecommunications and Digital Transformation, emphasised that “this orbiting lab positions Catalonia as a leading hub for research. This project not only drives scientific innovation but also creates opportunities for our technological and industrial ecosystem. The Government of Catalonia will continue to support initiatives like this, which combine cutting-edge research, public-private collaboration, and real societal impact.”
Sergi Figuerola, Director of i2CAT, stated that “6GStarLab represents a significant milestone for European non-terrestrial network research, providing a real space-based infrastructure to validate key 6G technologies. This open lab, funded by NextGenerationEU, will transform satellite communications research and its integration with terrestrial networks.”
i2CAT plans to strengthen research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and connectivity extension through non-terrestrial networks, as well as publish research results for the scientific community. The 6GStarLab infrastructure will be available to scientists and technologists interested in exploring and experimenting with future communications, aligning with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) 6G roadmap.
Satellite Manufacturing and Deployment
i2CAT has awarded a €1.65 million public contract to Open Cosmos for the design, manufacture, integration, launch, and deployment of the 6GStarLab satellite.
The satellite will include payloads designed by i2CAT and the Catalan company Microwave Sensors and Electronics (MWSE), developed through the 6GSatNet project, a space-to-ground optical communication laser terminal and a ground station by Transcelestial, a Singapore-based company. It will also include a set of radio-frequency communication antennas developed by the NanoSatLab group at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).
The satellite is set for launch in October this year, with research operations beginning in early 2026.
Before launch, it will undergo rigorous testing to ensure proper functionality in orbit. Additionally, Open Cosmos will provide an engineering model of the satellite to i2CAT, allowing experiments to be validated in the lab before deployment in space.
Rafel Jordà, CEO of Open Cosmos, highlighted: “We are proud to contribute to the development of 6GStarLab, a project that will place Catalonia and Europe at the forefront of space communications. This initiative perfectly exemplifies how collaboration between companies, research centers, and institutions can accelerate 6G development, bringing space technology to the core of advanced and secure communications on Earth.”
The launch of this open orbital lab has been made possible by funding secured by i2CAT through the scientific infrastructure and equipment subprogram for universities and research centers, promoted by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service. This subprogram is part of Spain’s UNICO I+D 6G Program, funded by NextGenerationEU under the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, aiming to consolidate Spain’s leadership in advanced 5G and 6G research.
In total, i2CAT has secured €10 million from the scientific infrastructure and equipment subprogram to establish multiple research laboratories.
