Tenders/POSITIONING-INDEPENDENT AIR-INTERFACE TECHNIQUES FOR 6G NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 7B.092) - EXPRO+ - RE-ISSUE

OpenWorks

POSITIONING-INDEPENDENT AIR-INTERFACE TECHNIQUES FOR 6G NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 7B.092) - EXPRO+ - RE-ISSUE

European Space Agency (ESA)

Published: Oct 30, 2026

Updated: Nov 5, 2026

Source: ESA - European Space Agency

About This Opportunity

This is a works contract in the information and communication technology sector, with a focus on Network Infrastructure and Telecommunications. 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 civil works in the information and communication technology sector. Works contracts of this nature generally require demonstrated experience in similar infrastructure projects, adequate equipment and technical personnel, and financial capacity including bank guarantees. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.

Description

Objective of the activity is to develop and test positioning-independent techniques for Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) air interfaces.Targeted Improvements:Enable positioning independency for ground NTN terminals.Description: The development of a positioning-independent air-interface is deemed essential for future 6G NTN. Conventional 5G NTN terminals rely heavily on GNSS for positioning andtiming information, which means a terminal with no or poor GNSS reception cannot use NTN technology. Moreover, GNSS signals are vulnerable to spoofing and jamming,which can compromise the reliability and security of the communication links. By developing positioning-independent techniques, NTN terminals can operate without relying onGNSS or other positioning systems / sensors, enabling indoor coverage which is one of the goals in 6G for NTN as defined in the 3GPP roadmap. This feature is also crucialfor maintaining reliable communication in various scenarios, including critical infrastructure and emergency response. Positioning-independent modems can then operate inenvironments where positioning signals are weak or unavailable, such as indoors, urban canyons, or remote areas. This flexibility enhances the overall coverage and reliabilityof NTN services.This activity will explore the use of alternative techniques and protocols enabling a positioning-independent NTN air interface. Techniques and protocols shall be implementedin a modem prototype and evaluated in a real-time testbed possibly based on open radio stack.Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to:http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Small_and_Medium_Sized_Enterprises/Opportunities_for_SMEs/Procurement_policy_on_fair_access_for_SMEs_-_the_C1-C4_Clauses

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from ESA - European Space Agency and was originally published on October 30, 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 888 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 186 currently open and 227 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Information & Communication Technology, Transport & Logistics, and Environment & Climate. Tenders span 10 countries including Denmark, Czech Republic, and Slovenia. Notices are distributed via ESA - European Space Agency. Most recent publication: October 30, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

What type of contract is this?

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

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.