As part of the European 5G-HUB project, Indra is developing a state-of-the-art, interoperable, 5G satellite system to ensure secure, robust, and resilient data transmission from space in the event of a disaster or emergency in a remote area via a SATCOM terminal.

Indra’s solution will be tried out during a pilot test with the Italian Red Cross, which will simulate a complete failure of the terrestrial communication networks due to a catastrophe, while it will also be deployed in Spain on a vessel belonging to the Open Arms NGO to perform telemedicine tasks on the high seas

Indra Group is taking part in the European 5G-HUB project with its innovative SATCOM solution, a satellite communications system developed to guarantee robust, secure, and resilient connectivity in emergency situations and remote environments without any terrestrial coverage.

As part of this strategic project, which is funded by the Horizon Europe program and coordinated by the University of Siena, Indra will develop a state-of-the-art interoperable 5G satellite system that automatically switches between satellite and terrestrial communications to ensure the continuity of the service, even in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis that can cause widespread breakdowns of communication networks and hinder the coordination of rescue efforts in extreme circumstances.

Indra’s solution enables the real-time transmission of data and video in situations in which communication is vital, such as humanitarian operations, search and rescue missions and interventions following major disasters, on land, at sea, and in remote areas that currently lack network coverage or for those that have completely lost their network infrastructure due to a catastrophe.

Two highly significant pilot tests will be carried out to validate the functioning of the communications in critical and extreme environments. During the first, a major climate catastrophe causing a complete failure of all of the terrestrial communication networks will be simulated in partnership with the Italian Red Cross.

In the second, to be carried out in Spain, the system will be tested on a real mission of the Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean, during which one of its ships will be equipped with a state-of-the-art onboard satellite terminal provided by Indra, enabling telemedicine applications, live video transmissions from drones and the real-time coordination of the entire operation from land.

Indra will also provide the tool set to be used for the automated management of the communication requests. This software will be able to simulate the appropriate allocation of the available satellite and terrestrial resources in accordance with each request, optimizing the coordination and use of critical capabilities in emergency situations and thus guaranteeing a more streamlined and efficient response. This solution will also be used to carry out exercises very similar to those to be performed with the terminals when they become operational within the GOVSATCOM system, a component of the European Union’s Space Program.

The tests to be carried out in Italy and Spain constitute a technological milestone, as they will be among the first demonstrations of a hybrid terrestrial-satellite 5G communications model applied to real emergency operations in Europe. This breakthrough will strengthen Indra Group’s standing as one of Europe’s leading end-to-end players in the space sphere, with capabilities to enhance security, operational efficiency, and the protection of critical communications in the civil and military domains.

Indra Group will continue to drive a more secure, connected, and sustainable future with this project, placing technology at the service of the safety and well-being of citizens. With innovation at the core of its business and unique experience going back over 30 years, the company boasts a comprehensive portfolio of trailblazing solutions designed on an ad hoc basis to address all kinds of citizen security threats that have been implemented in countries all around the world.