In a move to strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in advanced connectivity technologies, TITAN, a member of the Federated Telecoms Research Hubs (FTH) and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), signed a Memorandum of Intent at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona.
The collaboration reflects a wider shift in industry thinking ahead of 6G, where experts increasingly view the convergence of terrestrial and space‑based networks as essential to delivering global coverage.
The agreement sets out a framework for deep technical collaboration on advanced 5G and future 6G networks spanning terrestrial and NTN domains, with a particular focus on radio frequency (RF) and optical wireless connectivity.
TITAN Director Professor Harald Haas, who is the Van Eck Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, says: “This partnership between TITAN and ITRI represents a significant step towards the seamless integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. It brings together global leadership in complementary technology domains, which has the potential to remove existing barriers to the adoption of LiFi and optical wireless communication systems.”
ITRI’s wireless modems, hardware and software will be combined with TITAN’s optical wireless platforms to deliver joint demonstrations in scenarios such as X‑haul and fixed-wireless access. The partners also plan to jointly promote the resulting testbeds and proof‑of‑concepts, through video showcases, press materials and live demonstrations at global industry events.
The collaboration comes as non‑terrestrial networks (NTNs) move from concept to large‑scale testing, with ecosystem players demonstrating 5G NTN connections over operational low earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites and integrating them into 3GPP standards.
ITRI has already led what it claims to be world‑first, multi‑orbit NTN trials using in‑orbit LEO satellites and commercial GEO systems, providing 5G air interfaces over satellite links and achieving high spectrum efficiency in challenging propagation conditions. In parallel, TITAN, as a part of the FTH, has been building new enabling technologies such as Doppler robust waveforms for seamless “Network of Networks” across terrestrial and non‑terrestrial infrastructures to underpin future connectivity.
The FTH is showcasing groundbreaking research from across its four hubs: CHEDDAR, HASC, JOINER, and TITAN at Stand 7B43 in Hall 7 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year.
Beyond demonstrations, TITAN and ITRI will programme joint trials, workshops and knowledge‑sharing designed to accelerate 5G‑Advanced and 6G research and development. Planned activities include integrating emerging 6G radio and optical wireless technologies into end‑to‑end trials across different industry verticals, from transport and logistics through to resilient infrastructure and remote industrial automation. Both partners will also coordinate public events and expert workshops to present progress, and debate key policy issues such as spectrum strategy and standards alignment.
A key aim of the partnership is to move beyond theoretical 6G roadmaps towards commercially deployable, interoperable systems that can support everything from immersive applications and autonomous mobility to large‑scale IoT deployment and critical communications.
By explicitly addressing both technical and ecosystem dimensions – standardisation, supply‑chain resilience and international co‑development – the collaboration aligns with ongoing UK efforts to diversify the telecoms supply chain and increase adoption of home‑grown innovation, as well as Taiwan’s push to position its wireless and satellite industries at the heart of the 6G era.
Within the framework, both partners will deliver joint demonstrations and seek joint funding opportunities. TITAN will leverage its UK‑wide ecosystem of academic, industrial and policy partners, while ITRI will bring its experience in multi‑orbit NTN systems, advanced 5G/6G RF front‑ends and massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technologies developed under Taiwan’s 6G programmes.
