Japan’s NICT Expands NTN Research with Luxembourg and Odysseus Space MoUs
The Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has signed new agreements with the University of Luxembourg and Odysseus Space to deepen collaboration on next-generation space communications and non-terrestrial networks.
The MoU with the University of Luxembourg covers a broad set of research areas tied to Beyond 5G and 6G, including satellite constellations, optical links, AI for space systems and network orchestration. The partnership will focus on joint research activities, including knowledge exchange, researcher mobility and collaborative workshops.
Alongside this, NICT has signed a separate agreement with Odysseus Space to carry out joint experiments in optical satellite-to-ground communications. The work will use both organisations’ space and ground assets to test interoperability and expand opportunities for in-orbit demonstrations - an area where access remains limited.
The two agreements reflect growing interest in optical communications as a complement to RF-based NTN systems, particularly for high-capacity links and future network architectures. At the same time, they underline the increasingly international nature of NTN research, with collaboration spanning academia, industry and government-backed institutions.
For NICT, the partnerships extend its role in advancing space-based communications technologies beyond Japan, while supporting wider efforts to develop the building blocks of future 6G-enabled NTN systems.