01Frontier
The technologies moving now.
Ranked by how closely each serves what this industry needs to observe. Each item names the specification or standard it is drawn against.
Frontier · Spectrum, timing and PNT · Spectrum monitoring and interference management
Distributed low-cost SDR sensor networks
Many inexpensive receivers at sites forming a continuous spectrum picture.
Rec. ITU-R SM.1880 · ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring
Frontier · Spectrum, timing and PNT · Spectrum monitoring and interference management
Machine-learning signal classification
Models that recognise signal types and anomalies in monitoring data.
ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring
Frontier · In situ sensors and instruments · RF, acoustics, cameras and radar
Event-based and neuromorphic cameras
Sensors that report changes per pixel at microsecond rates with very low power.
EMVA 1288 (reference for characterisation)
Frontier · AI-RAN and Open RAN · AI/ML in the air interface and network management
AI/ML for CSI feedback
Learned compression and prediction of channel state information to improve MIMO precoding.
3GPP TR 38.843 (AI/ML for NR air interface, Rel-18)
Frontier · Ground segment · Earth station spectrum coordination and interference
Satellite and terrestrial spectrum sharing
Studies and tools for satellite services sharing mobile bands, including direct-to-device.
ITU WRC-27 agenda item 1.13 (Resolution 253 (WRC-23))
Frontier · IoT, LPWAN and mesh · Satellite IoT and non-terrestrial networks
Store-and-forward satellite IoT
Regenerative satellites that hold uplinked data until a ground station is in view.
3GPP Rel-19 IoT-NTN store-and-forward work item
Frontier · IoT, LPWAN and mesh · Satellite IoT and non-terrestrial networks
NR NTN and direct-to-device
5G NR links from satellites to standard devices, including RedCap over NTN in Rel-19.
3GPP TS 38.300 (Rel-17 NR NTN) · 3GPP TR 38.821 (NR NTN solutions)
Frontier · IoT, LPWAN and mesh · Satellite IoT and non-terrestrial networks
LoRa-class links to satellites
LPWAN modulations received by satellites for remote sensors with very small payloads.
LoRaWAN Regional Parameters RP002 (LR-FHSS)
Frontier · IoT, LPWAN and mesh · Local networks and mesh
Wi-Fi sensing
Using Wi-Fi channel measurements to detect presence and motion without cameras.
IEEE 802.11bf-2025 (WLAN sensing)
Frontier · Core and transport networks · 5G core functions
6G core architecture studies
Release 20 work on the next system architecture, including AI, sensing and NTN as native features.
3GPP TR 22.870 (6G use cases) · Rec. ITU-R M.2160
Frontier · Core and transport networks · Fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul
D-band and W-band radio
Links above 90 GHz giving very high capacity over a few hundred metres.
ETSI ISG mWT (millimetre wave transmission) reports
Frontier · Core and transport networks · Fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul
Aerial relays for backhaul
Tethered drones and HAPS carrying backhaul for disaster and temporary coverage.
ITU Resolution 221 (Rev. WRC-23) HIBS · 3GPP TS 23.256 (UAS)
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Earth observation payload classes
On-board processing and AI for EO
In-orbit screening, compression and detection that downlink results instead of raw data and shorten time to alert.
CCSDS 122.0-B (image data compression) · CCSDS 123.0-B
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Tracking, telemetry and command and space safety
Rendezvous, proximity operations and on-orbit servicing
Inspection, refuelling, life extension and removal missions that change how space assets are maintained.
ISO 24330:2022 (RPO and on-orbit servicing)
Frontier · Spectrum, timing and PNT · Packet timing: PTP, SyncE and NTP
Sub-nanosecond timing (high-accuracy profile)
Enhanced PTP techniques for sub-nanosecond alignment in science and metrology networks.
IEEE 1588-2019 (high accuracy default PTP profile)
Frontier · Data, software and interoperability · Licensing, residency and governance
Data spaces
Federated sharing where each party keeps control and usage policies travel with the data.
Eclipse Dataspace Protocol · IDSA Rulebook
Frontier · Ground segment · Mission control and flight dynamics
Anomaly detection and spacecraft health analytics
Statistical and machine-learning monitoring of telemetry that flags faults before limits are crossed.
ECSS-E-ST-70C
Frontier · Core and transport networks · Network automation and intent
Network digital twins
A live model of the network for what-if analysis before changes go live.
ITU-T Y.3090 (digital twin network)
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Communications payloads, NTN and direct-to-device
Regenerative payloads and on-board processing
Payloads that demodulate, route or run base-station functions in orbit, cutting gateway dependence and latency.
3GPP Rel-19 NR NTN enhancements (regenerative payload) · 3GPP TS 38.300
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Communications payloads, NTN and direct-to-device
Direct-to-device in mobile bands
Satellites serving unmodified phones in terrestrial mobile spectrum to extend coverage at the edge of networks.
FCC Supplemental Coverage from Space framework (2024) · ITU WRC-27 agenda item 1.13 (Resolution 253 (WRC-23))
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Communications payloads, NTN and direct-to-device
Store-and-forward satellite IoT
Satellites that collect data when out of gateway view and deliver later, suited to sparse sensor networks.
3GPP Rel-19 IoT NTN store-and-forward
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Inter-satellite and space-to-ground links
Optical inter-satellite links
Laser crosslinks giving multi-gigabit, low-interference routing in space without spectrum licensing.
SDA Optical Communications Terminal Standard · CCSDS 141.0-B (optical communications physical layer)
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Inter-satellite and space-to-ground links
Optical space-to-ground links
Laser downlinks to optical ground stations for very high data volumes, managed with site diversity against cloud.
CCSDS 141.0-B (optical physical layer) · CCSDS 142.0-B (optical coding and synchronisation)
Frontier · Satellite and space systems · Inter-satellite and space-to-ground links
GEO data relay for LEO missions
Relays in higher orbit that give near-continuous contact to LEO spacecraft and cut data latency.
CCSDS 141.0-B · CCSDS 401.0-B (RF and modulation systems)