ITRI TODAY Summer issue 2025

Taiwan and UK Partner on 6G Innovation and Testing

As countries race to define the standards of next-generation mobile networks, Taiwan is strengthening its international collaboration in next-generation communications through new partnerships in the UK. By working with two leading UK research hubs, TITAN and JOINER, on joint R&D, field testing, and talent exchange, ITRI aims to accelerate 6G research and expand Taiwan’s participation in global 6G standards development and key technology initiatives.

The collaboration builds on ITRI’s growing expertise in key 6G enabling technologies, including Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN), AI-driven network management, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)—technologies expected to redefine future intelligent and resilient network architectures.

“ITRI has long invested in non-terrestrial networks and next-generation communications,” said Pang-An Ting, Vice President and General Director of Information and Communications Research Laboratories at ITRI. “Through collaborations with several leading global companies, we have evolved from component development to full system integration. Through these UK collaborations, ITRI is taking a step forward toward international 6G validation and deeper engagement with the global telecommunications ecosystem.”

TITAN: Advancing Optical, Wireless, and Satellite Technologies

With TITAN, a UK government-funded telecommunications hub coordinated by the University of Cambridge, the collaboration focuses on researching optical communications, wireless technologies, and satellite communications for next-generation network development.

According to Harald Haas, Director of TITAN, the partnership with ITRI will help advance the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. By combining optical wireless communications with advanced radio frequency and satellite technologies, the two sides hope to lay the groundwork for future 6G systems.

“ITRI’s achievements in the O-RAN space are a critical piece of the puzzle in building end-to-end open networks. I’m looking forward to carrying out joint demonstrations in scenarios such as X-haul and fixed wireless access to accelerate the realization of an integrated and intelligent 6G vision,” Haas said.

JOINER: An Experimental Platform for Future Networks R&D

In a separate collaboration, ITRI is partnering with JOINER, an international experimentation platform led by the University of Bristol that connects more than 15 universities and research laboratories across the UK and Ireland. It provides an open environment where researchers can test, collaborate, and innovate emerging communications technologies, breaking through the limitations of traditional single-lab testing and localized testbeds.

“JOINER is more than a platform; it is a catalyst for the future of telecommunications. Operating at international scale across the UK and Ireland, JOINER brings together world-class centres of excellence, including the National Spectrum Facility, the NTN Emulation Facility, and the AI Acceleration Facility, to enable bold experimentation in 6G and beyond,” said Constantinos Vrontos, Lead Systems and Solutions Architect at JOINER.

“By breaking the constraints of isolated lab testing and conventional local testbeds, JOINER delivers flexibility and experimentation at scale, accelerating research, collaboration, rapid prototyping, and Technology Readiness Level advancement. It transforms pioneering ideas into real-world impact and intellectual property, while equipping the next generation of telecom engineers and leaders with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and vision needed to shape the networks of tomorrow.”

Toward Intelligent and Integrated Networks

ITRI will continue developing key 6G and 5G-Advanced technologies, including multi-orbit satellite integration and direct-to-device connectivity. These efforts support resilient communications for remote regions, maritime environments, and disaster response while strengthening Taiwan’s role in next-generation communications and the global 6G ecosystem.