Tenders/OPEN RADIO ACCESS NETWORK FRAMEWORK FOR THE END-TO-END MANAGEMENT OF REGENERATIVE NON-TERRESTRIAL-NETWORK ACCESS NODES (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3F.039) - RE-ISSUE

OpenFramework

OPEN RADIO ACCESS NETWORK FRAMEWORK FOR THE END-TO-END MANAGEMENT OF REGENERATIVE NON-TERRESTRIAL-NETWORK ACCESS NODES (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3F.039) - RE-ISSUE

European Space Agency (ESA)

Published: Oct 27, 2026

Updated: Oct 28, 2026

Source: ESA - European Space Agency

About This Opportunity

This is a framework agreement contract in the information and communication technology and architecture and engineering sectors, with a focus on Network Infrastructure, Telecommunications and artificial intelligence. Located in International, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums.

Published through ESA - European Space Agency, a multilateral development bank that follows standardized international procurement guidelines. Projects funded by multilateral institutions are generally open to international bidders from eligible member countries for framework agreement in the information and communication technology sector. Framework agreements establish terms for recurring procurement over a defined period. Selected firms are called upon as needs arise, making this a longer-term engagement opportunity. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.

Description

Objective: The objective of the activity is to enhance the existing Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) framework to support 5G/6G Non-Terrestrial-Network (NTN) payloads, while integrating the ORAN adaptations with conventional ground segment control centres.Targeted Improvements:1) Adapt the of Enhanced Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) interfaces to support Non-Terrestrial-Network (NTN) 5G/6G payload2) Improve the ORAN Transport network layer3) Enable the Integration of ORAN interfaces into the ground segment operations for system interoperability4) Enable new applications for NTN payloads.Description: Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) specifications are on the brink of reforming the 3GPP radio network fabric through the development and standardisation of open interfaces that provide vendor interoperability, disaggregation of radio protocol stack, access to Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML enabled Radio Intelligent Controllers (RICs) and a framework for Service Management and Orchestration (SMO). The complexity required for the management and optimisation of hybrid TN/NTN (terrestrial/non-terrestrial network) radio platforms, make ORAN an ideal candidate for handling mobility, resource allocation, quality of Service optimisation, multi-connectivity, and spectrum sharing amongothers.Currently a solid background exists to build upon and expand the current ORAN standards and interfaces to support the NTN regenerative payloads, the interworking between TN/NTN nodes and the open interface integration with ground segment Network Operations Centres (NOCs).To tackle the main challenges, this activity is expected to:1) Enhance ORAN architectures with respect to the deployment of optimised interfaces between ground and space.2) Support the adaptation of the ORAN application protocol and service models, to support the 5G/6G NTN payloads.3) Optimise the ORAN transport network association to support the satellite motion out of aspecific geographical area.4) Develop and test real and non-real time Radio Intelligent Controller (RIC) enabled AI/ML applications (xApps, rApps) for NTN node mobility, traffic steering, quality of serviceoptimisation and resource allocation.5) Integrate the ORAN open interfaces with a real or emulated/simulated NOC terminating the interface, to optimise the resource allocation of regenerative NTN nodes.6) Integrate the TN and NTN existing nodes under the same RIC and Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platform.7) Deliver an end-to-end testbed that follows the OpenRAN workflow and demonstrate the performances for various scenarios with different service requirements.

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from ESA - European Space Agency and was originally published on October 27, 2026. Last refreshed today. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About European Space Agency (ESA)

European Space Agency (ESA) has issued 884 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 198 currently open and 226 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Information & Communication Technology, Environment & Climate, and Transport & Logistics. Tenders span 10 countries including Denmark, Czech Republic, and Slovenia. Notices are distributed via ESA - European Space Agency. Most recent publication: October 27, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

Where will the contract be performed?

The contract is for delivery in International. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.

How can I submit a bid?

Visit ESA - European Space Agency to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions provided by the contracting authority.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by European Space Agency (ESA) in International. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.

What type of contract is this?

This is a Framework agreement contract in the Information & Communication Technology sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.