6G-SKY

The Airbus-coordinated project “6G for Connected Sky (6G-SKY)” completed in 2025, marking the culmination of years of Research & Technology collaboration across Europe. The project addressed airspace and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity towards 6G from architectural design to technology demonstrations.

6G-SKY logo

Current network architectures struggle to provide reliable, high-capacity connectivity in three-dimensional (3D) space. Existing 5G infrastructures often fail to meet the unique, high-mobility requirements of diverse flying vehicles or to provide robust, low-latency coverage to underserved rural areas lacking traditional ground infrastructure.

The 6G-SKY project introduces a flexible, adaptive network architecture, for which new communication approaches on the way to 6G were explored and tested. Ultra-reliable multipath connectivity for aerial and ground users was investigated and flight-tested, e.g., by a drone with concurrent connectivity to a LEO satellite, ground cellular base station, and — via another drone — a wireless mesh network. The benefits of a 6G base station on a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) were evaluated and tested by an airplane flying at a stratospheric level connecting to ground users on carrier frequencies just above 6GHz while backhauling via a LEO satellite.

6G-SKY’s Airspace and Non-Terrestrial Network Architecture

Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) using 6G radio signals has the opportunity to sense environments such as an airport or an airspace. Its viability was tested by monitoring aircraft gate activities, which can be used to provide precise data for turnaround optimization.

Test of Aircraft Turnaround Monitoring via 6G Networks at Stockholm Airport

Several further elements were demonstrated, such as connectivity for drone swarms supporting goods mobility, explainable AI for reliable drone connectivity, and a 768-element antenna array for 6.4-8.4 GHz capable of direct air-to-ground communication.

This project enables high-capacity, reliable communications for both aerial platforms and ground users in remote regions. By bridging the digital divide and supporting the complex needs of the next generation of flying vehicles, 6G-SKY ensures a robust, connected ecosystem that enhances safety, operational efficiency, and global digital inclusion. “6G-SKY could underpin this by its successful technology demonstrations and contributions to 6G standardization," says Dominic Schupke 6G-SKY coordinator and Research Project Leader at Airbus Central Research and Technology.