Korean researchers have achieved a global first by integrating terrestrial and satellite networks for 6G, successfully tested in real-time urban air mobility flights.
For next-generation networks, Korean researchers have successfully demonstrated integrated terrestrial and satellite communication for 6G in real-time urban air mobility (UAM) flight tests. The milestone is being hailed as a decisive step toward securing leadership in global 6G standardization.The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) achieved the feat by deploying a testbed combining terrestrial and satellite base stations, integrated terminals, and a 6G core. During test flights between cities, aircraft seamlessly switched between ground and satellite signals, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.
At the heart of the achievement is a dual steering technology that intelligently selects terrestrial or satellite links depending on conditions. This dynamic adaptability ensures high stability even in challenging environments, overcoming the limitations of current 5G systems that rely on segregated networks.To enhance realism, ETRI paired computer-generated animations with actual testbed data, showcasing how UAM vehicles maintain links in varying conditions. Keysight’s channel emulator further enabled precise simulation of complex wireless environments.
Adding to the demonstration, a head-mounted display (HMD) allowed participants to experience 6G “hyper-space communication” from a passenger’s perspective, highlighting its immersive potential for commercial services.The implications extend far beyond UAM. Researchers expect 6G hyper-space communication to underpin next-generation mobility and defense systems while providing the backbone for ubiquitous global connectivity. The achievement also reinforces Korea’s leadership role, with ETRI contributing extensively to 3GPP standardization, Open RAN initiatives, and securing 48 patent applications linked to this technology.
“True hyper-space communication will erase the boundary between Earth and sky,” said Yong Soon Back, Senior VP at ETRI. “This demonstration firmly establishes our technological leadership.”
Looking ahead, ETRI envisions the technology as a foundation for fully integrated networks that connect users, vehicles, and infrastructure worldwide—offering resilient, high-speed links for future smart mobility, aerospace, and beyond.
