Keysight Technologies will lead a European Space Agency (ESA) development program looking at how blockchain technologies can be used to detect anomalies for 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN).
The award announced Wednesday is under the ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) 5G Strategic Product Line. Keysight will serve as the prime contractor, working with satellite IoT provider Sateliot for technical development and satellite mission integration.
The program is focused on establishing a secure, verifiable trust framework for NTN environments, in preparation for a future with more complex space-based networks.
It planned to include laboratory research and prototyping as well as a full in‑orbit demonstration to demonstrate blockchain‑anchored trust, autonomous anomaly detection, and secure telemetry can be applied in operational satellite environments.
Keysight said it will bring its design, test, and measurement expertise to “explore how blockchain, AI, machine learning, and digital calibration certificates can be applied across the full NTN lifecycle, from satellite manufacturing and calibration to in‑orbit operation and service delivery.”
“The future of Europe’s connectivity depends on networks that are not only advanced, but trusted, resilient and secure. Supporting this project, which benefits from Keysight’s leadership and Sateliot’s expertise, underscores ESA’s commitment to helping pioneer the technologies required to safeguard the integration of non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks,” commented Antonio Franchi, head of the Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity program at ESA.
