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SatNEx

SatNEx platform functional diagram

The work of the Satellite Communication Network of Excellence (SatNEx) initially supported by the European Union (EU) is continuing with support from ESA’s Telecom Advanced Research in Telecommuncations (ARTES) and Technical Directorate Network of Centers programmes.

The primary goal of SatNEx  under EU sponsorship was to achieve long-lasting integration of the European research in satellite communications and to develop a common base of knowledge.  SatNEx was formed in 2004 by 22 partner research organisations and universities with the support of the EU FP6 programme as one of several new Networks of Excellence (NoE). Having successfully completed its initial stage, funding was renewed by the EU in 2006 to continue with SatNEx II, with 24 partners from 10 countries up to March 2009.

Apart from establishing a critical mass of research effort in satellite communications in Europe, SatNex has established an annual summer school for new researchers, of which five schools have taken place. The summer school provides a comprehensive programme of advanced technical and scientific lectures which cover specific areas in satellite communications.  Also, SatNEx has sponsored and coordinated six satellite conferences with SatNEx sessions and special PhD student sessions, has produced many journal and conference papers as well as four books, and has provided inputs to standards bodies and participated in forming standards.

The third stage of SatNEx, SatNEx III, continues with the support of ESA with a more focused approach. SatNEx III is comprised of 17 European research organisations and universities. The German Aerospace Centerwith its Institute of Communications and Navigation, DLR, lead the team with the close support of the University of Surrey, Centre for Communication Systems Research, and the University of Bologna.

In addition to a number of horizontal network activities, each year ESA will activate a number of specific advanced research areas. In the first projec year, SatNEx-III has been charged with the concept development for a Terabtit/s satellite system, the exploration of  hybrid space/ground signal processing techniques, and the investigation of new protocols for disruption tolerant satellite communications.

Sponsor

ESA

Link to Webpage

http://www.satnex.org/

Partners

SatNEx partner organisations

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Institute of Communications and Navigation (Co-ordinator)
University of Surrey, Centre for Communication Systems Research
University of Bologna, Department of Electronics, Computer Science, and Systems
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Bradford, Communication Systems Engineering Research Group
Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni (CNIT)
Italian National Research Council (CNR), Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell`Informazione “Alessandro Faedo” (ISTI)
Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya
National Observatory of Athens Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing
Office National d`Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA)
University of Salzburg, Department of Computer Sciences, Visual Computing and Multimedia Communications
TéSA Association, Institut Supérieur de l`Aéronautique et de l`Espace (ISAE)
Graz University of Technology, Institute of Communication Networks and Satellite Communications
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department Telecomunicació i Enginyeria de Sistemes
University of Aberdeen, King`s College, Department of Engineering
Universita Degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Department of Electronics
Universidade de Vigo, Department of Signal Theory and Communications