Tamper-proof 5G satellites Keysight and Sateliot Develop Secure Non-Terrestrial 5G Networks

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The ESA commissions Keysight and Sateliot to develop a blockchain-based framework for non-terrestrial 5G networks. This also raises questions about standardisation and interoperability.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Keysight Technologies as the prime contractor for a three-year development program to create a blockchain-based trust and anomaly detection framework for non-terrestrial 5G networks (NTN). Sateliot is participating as a technical partner. The project is part of the "Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity" program line of ESA's ARTES program and aims to ensure the integrity and reliability of space-based 5G/IoT services throughout the entire lifecycle of a satellite, from manufacturing and calibration to telemetry and in-orbit operation.

Satellite constellations for IoT and broadband

The background is the increase in satellite constellations for IoT and broadband, which makes NTN architectures more complex: satellites, ground stations, and terrestrial 5G networks interact more closely, and future 6G scenarios anticipate that non-terrestrial components will play a central role. This networking brings new challenges for service quality, anomaly management, and operational security. According to the project partners, the availability of reliable, verifiable data is crucial to enable autonomous, AI-driven operating modes and to prevent manipulations such as spoofing.

The measurement technology specialist Keysight is contributing its expertise to the project to explore how blockchain technologies, AI/ML algorithms, and digital calibration certificates (DCC) can work together. The goal is a verifiable trust framework that combines tamper-proof security, traceable audit trails, and automated anomaly detection.

"This initiative represents an important step toward securing hybrid space-ground networks at a time when the global deployment of NTN networks is gaining momentum," said Eric Taylor, Vice President of Aerospace, Defence, and Government Solutions at Keysight. "By combining measurement technology with AI-driven quality assurance and blockchain technologies, this work will demonstrate how trust can be established throughout the entire NTN lifecycle—from design and validation to in-orbit operation."

A secure 5G ecosystem

For Sateliot, which already has experience with 5G IoT satellites, the project provides an operational perspective on blockchain functionalities in orbit. "This program represents a decisive step toward integrating space-based resources into a secure, unified 5G ecosystem," explains Albert Pujol, Chief Innovation Officer at Sateliot.

"By incorporating blockchain into our operational activities in orbit, we are creating a transparent validation layer that enables the scaling of large IoT networks worldwide while ensuring security and performance at all times." The blockchain is not intended as a panacea but as an immutable audit layer that seamlessly logs measurement and calibration data, certificates, and relevant events.

Several building blocks are combined

The project technically combines several building blocks: blockchain-supported, tamper-proof logging for traceability, AI- and ML-based anomaly detection for autonomous monitoring and response, as well as digital calibration certificates that make testing and calibration information machine-readable and verifiable.

These elements are first tested in the laboratory and then validated in an orbital demonstration. Using digital calibration certificates, measurement results are to be linked from the manufacturing test bench to telemetry in orbit to build trust in data quality. Only in this way can the AI models make reliable decisions.

From the perspective of measurement technology, the following are of interest: testing procedures and calibration processes must be digitised and signed; test systems require interfaces to blockchain networks and AI pipelines; telemetry security and secure key management become core requirements.

Thierry Locquette, Vice President of Sales, Europe at Keysight, also sees economic opportunities in this: "Europe is a pioneer in space-based connectivity and secure telecommunications. With our strong local presence and global expertise, we are excited to contribute to advancing technologies that will play a critical role in Europe's future NTN and space communication infrastructure."

Are new attack vectors emerging?

At the same time, the combination of blockchain and AI raises new questions: What standardisation and interoperability requirements will arise? How can a trustworthy inspection and certification system be scaled across multinational constellations? And what new attack surfaces emerge in a system that makes autonomous network decisions based on interconnected measurement data? Answers to these questions must be found not only on a technical level but also on an organisational and regulatory level.

The program is planned for three years. It starts with laboratory developments and prototypes, goes through integration and validation phases, and culminates in a full in-orbit demonstration. If successful, the framework could serve as a blueprint for future NTN projects and accelerate the global deployment of reliable, space-based 5G/6G networks. This will impact measurement technology, security, and system integration in the European industry. (heh)