ESA has created a space-inspired virtual environment to enable its workforce to experience the COP27 climate summit - which is being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt - without the environmental cost of travelling.

This metaverse showcase - connected over the internet and satellite-enabled 5G - provides another demonstration of the potential of next-generation communications, showing how the resilient, ubiquitous, and seamless connectivity delivered by converged networks could transform virtual collaboration.

Alongside COP27, ESA developed the digital environment to allow the agency to come together virtually, to take part in discussions about the use of space for tackling the climate crisis.

This digital installation - created as part of the 5G/6G Strategic Programme Line of ESA's Directorate of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications - incorporates bespoke virtual environments for networking and exhibits that feature the latest sustainable innovations, along with live streams of on-site reporting from Egypt.

During the conference, hundreds of ESA staff across its European sites immersed themselves in the digital environment. They accessed the metaverse on their laptops or smartphones, or by wearing virtual reality headsets, which were connected over the internet and by satellite 5G.

Engineers at ESA's 5G/6G Hub - which is located at the agency's European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications in the UK - connected people to the metaverse using its next-generation technologies.

In this demonstration's first scenario, a direct connection was established between the headset and ESA's metaverse showcase using the ESA 5G/6G Hub's private terrestrial 5G network. Next, the connection was rerouted via a satellite, demonstrating the integration of communications networks on the ground and in space.

The combination of the private 5G network and the satellite network worked seamlessly to provide continuous connectivity with the virtual environment.

The metaverse showcase forms part of ESA's efforts to promote European leadership in the development and deployment of next-generation connectivity.

Since its launch in February this year, ESA's 5G/6G Hub has been accelerating the 5G digital transformation by enabling businesses to test and develop innovative technologies in a future telecommunications environment.

The Hub is open to companies from across the European economy, including key industries relying on resilient communication networks such as energy, healthcare and transport.

Related Links
Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA
Space Technology News - Applications and Research

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Hounded at home, China's video game firms welcomed in Europe
Paris (AFP) Oct 16, 2022
China is investing billions in Europe's video game industry, but analysts have warned that there could be trouble along the road unless regulators start to take stricter notice. Europe is embroiled in long-running disputes with Beijing over trade, environment, education, raw materials, intellectual property - but so far video games are not part of the fight. As Beijing tightens up on the video game industry at home, China's tech giants are looking to make investments overseas - prompting conce ... read more