Frontier · Core and transport networks · Fibre and optical transport
Distributed fibre sensing
Using telecom fibre as a sensor for vibration, temperature and strain along its route.
IEC 61757 (fibre optic sensors)
Mining: the mine measured from pit to tailings: what is moving at the frontier.
Nexus Observatory/
Mining/
FrontierMining, at the frontier.
What is moving now in the technologies this industry runs on, each item traced to the specification or standard behind it.
Plan with usUse casesReference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn
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 · Remote sensing and Earth observation · Radar, lidar and microwave sensors
GNSS reflectometry
Reflected navigation signals for ocean wind, soil moisture and flood extent from low-cost receivers.
WMO OSCAR/Space
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 · Remote sensing and Earth observation · Tasking, ground segment and access
Optical ground stations
Laser downlink terminals that relieve radio spectrum limits, with weather-diverse site networks.
CCSDS 141.0-B (optical communications physical layer)
Frontier · Power, energy and ruggedisation · Energy management and monitoring
Forecast-driven predictive energy management
Using weather and load forecasts to plan charge and generator runs days ahead.
IEC 61850-7-420
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 · 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 · AI systems · Time-series and sensor AI
Virtual and soft sensors
Estimating quantities that are not measured directly from other sensors and models, labelled as estimates.
W3C SOSA/SSN ontology
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks · 6G and integrated sensing and communication
IMT-2030 framework
The ITU vision for 6G: usage scenarios, capabilities and timelines that shape the next decade of networks.
Rec. ITU-R M.2160
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks · 6G and integrated sensing and communication
3GPP 6G studies
Release 20 studies defining 6G use cases, requirements and radio and system design.
3GPP TR 22.870 (6G use cases and service requirements)
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks · 6G and integrated sensing and communication
Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC)
Using the radio network itself to detect and measure objects and environment alongside data service, under privacy rules.
3GPP TR 22.837 (ISAC feasibility study) · 3GPP TS 22.137 (ISAC service requirements) · 3GPP TR 23.700-14 (sensing architecture study)
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks · 6G and integrated sensing and communication
AI-native air interface
Air interface components designed around learned models rather than fixed algorithms.
Rec. ITU-R M.2160 · 3GPP TR 38.843 (AI/ML for the NR air interface)
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks · 6G and integrated sensing and communication
Sub-terahertz links
Links above 100 GHz for very high capacity over short distances and fixed backhaul.
IEEE 802.15.3d (252–325 GHz)
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks · 6G and integrated sensing and communication
Ubiquitous terrestrial and non-terrestrial coverage
6G designed from the start to include satellites and HAPS as part of the radio access.
Rec. ITU-R M.2160 · 3GPP TR 22.870
Frontier · 5G and 6G radio access networks · 6G and integrated sensing and communication
Energy-efficient and sustainable 6G
Network designs that scale energy with load and report energy per bit as a first-class metric.
Rec. ITU-R M.2160 · 3GPP TR 22.870
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 · Remote sensing and Earth observation · Optical, spectral and thermal sensors
Solar-induced fluorescence
Retrieval of the faint fluorescence of photosynthesis as a direct signal of plant stress.
CEOS WGCV Land Product Validation subgroup
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 · 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 · 5G and 6G radio access networks · NR bands, duplexing and synchronisation
FR2-2 (52.6–71 GHz)
Rel-17 extension into the 60 GHz range for short-range, very wide channels.
3GPP TS 38.101-2 (Rel-17) · 3GPP TS 38.300
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