Keysight Technologies, Inc. has been assigned by the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead a new three-year development program. The project is aimed at developing innovative, secure, and blockchain-based anomaly detection solutions for 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN). As the main contractor, Keysight will work with the Spanish satellite provider Sateliot to deliver main technical innovations and oversee spacecraft mission integration.
The continuous expansion of a wide variety of satellite communication constellations is giving rise to an extremely complex layout of orbital geometries. Today, s space borne payloads need to manage large volumes of data in real-time between different satellite groups, terrestrial ground stations, and old 5G cellular networks. When such hybrid topologies grow, the systems become more exposed not only physically by signal spoofing and physical tampering but also cyber attacks. The ESA supported project is the introduction of a decentralised verification method that will enhance security of those links that interconnect these different environments.
Embedding Immutable Integrity Across the Orbital Lifecycle
The strategic initiative is funded under the Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity program line within the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) framework. The core roadmap aims to replace reactive, host-based network defenses with an overarching cryptographically verifiable trust structure.
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To build this framework, the engineering teams are synthesizing three advanced technical disciplines:
Decentralized Ledger Architecture: Anchoring immutable tracking records to protect telemetry data streams against unauthorized external modifications.
Autonomous Intelligence Layers: Utilizing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models to identify anomalous behaviors and intercept cyber threats at machine-level speeds.
Traceable Hardware Verification: Deploying specialized digital calibration certificates across the network footprint to validate hardware integrity from the manufacturing floor to active orbit.
“This program represents a definitive shift toward integrating space-based assets into a secure, unified 5G ecosystem. By anchoring blockchain within our orbital operations, we are creating a transparent validation layer that allows massive IoT networks to scale globally while consistently ensuring security and performance.” Albert Pujol, Chief Innovation Officer at Sateliot
Laying the Infrastructure Foundation for Autonomous 6G Telemetry
The integration of verifiable validation systems directly impacts the long-term design roadmaps for next-generation 6G architectures. Because upcoming 6G applications will rely inherently on dense, non-terrestrial network nodes to achieve global cellular density, automated management centers must operate on completely trusted, tamper-proof operational datasets.
“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. Together, we’re not only taking a step towards defending Europe’s communications against spoofing and tampering, but we’re also ensuring that our Member States remain at the forefront of secure 5G and future 6G communications.” Antonio Franchi, Head of the Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity programme at ESA
“This initiative represents a major step toward securing hybrid space terrestrial networks at a time when global NTN deployments are accelerating. By combining test and measurement expertise with AI-driven assurance and blockchain technologies, this work will demonstrate how trust can be embedded across the full NTN lifecycle from design and validation through in-orbit operation.” Eric Taylor, Vice President, Aerospace, Defense and Government Solutions at Keysight
“Europe is at the forefront of space‑based connectivity and secure telecommunications. This project underscores Keysight’s long‑standing commitment to European sovereignty and innovation leadership.” Thierry Locquette, Vice President of Sales, Europe at Keysight
A Multi-Phase Validation Roadmap Ending in Orbit
The three-year engineering campaign is structured to advance methodically from early-stage laboratory modeling and software emulation environments to field validation. The research phase will culminate in a comprehensive in-orbit demonstration utilizing a live Sateliot spacecraft. This live test environment will actively validate the performance of the blockchain trust architecture under realistic orbital dynamics, high-speed telemetry routing, and atmospheric propagation constraints.
By successfully demonstrating deterministic data verification in deep space, the project aims to accelerate commercial market adoption for secure, space-based IoT arrays while cementing international telecommunication sovereignty. Telecom operators, satellite hardware engineers, cloud developers, and enterprise risk officers can review the structural testing specifications and track active mission development milestones by visiting the companies’ dedicated space-infrastructure portals.