DELTA6G – A Delay-Tolerant, Secure, Multi-Orbit 5G/6G Connectivity System

As 5G/6G networks expand beyond terrestrial infrastructure, integrating satellites into global connectivity becomes essential. Current 5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) integration assumes continuous connectivity, but real multi-orbit environments suffer from intermittent links, mobility, and cross-domain trust issues. DELTA6G proposes a delay-tolerant 5G/6G NTN connectivity platform that enables reliable and secure multi-orbit communication by combining store-and-forward mechanisms, distributed RAN split architectures, and zero-trust security enforcement.

Benefits:

• It is a delay-tolerant, secure, multi-orbit 5G/6G connectivity platform that enables the reliable and secure integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
• It extends the UCUDU platform, based on srsRAN, towards 3GPP Rel.18/19 NTN capabilities, incorporating store-and-forward (S&F) mechanisms, distributed RAN split architectures, and zero-trust security.
• The store-and-forward functionality ensures service continuity under intermittent connectivity by buffering and forwarding control and user plane data across disrupted links, enabling delay-tolerant operation in LEO/GEO environments.
• Flexible RAN splitting (CU/DU) allows deployment across space, air and ground segments.
• The main advantages are resilience to disruption, interoperability across heterogeneous networks and practical implementation through an existing platform.