A connected countryside using small base stations

The purpose of the research project is to improve access to mobile services in rural areas for both civilian and military use.

The project addresses the need for better connectivity in sparsely populated areas and explores how mobile services can be expanded through small-scale, locally owned solutions. The focus is on enabling local actors to manage the operation and maintenance of mobile services while also developing business models and design criteria for 6G.

The project utilises long-range communication bases (LoRa bases) to simulate ownership and deployment of 6G and is divided into three work packages: future business models, existing needs (particularly within the care sector), and future requirements from industry and defence. The solutions developed will support military logistics and autonomous transport systems.

The research contributes to knowledge about future communication infrastructure and the standardisation of 6G, with a particular focus on how existing technology can be adapted for societal benefit in peacetime. The project is highly relevant to society due to its links to sustainable transition, increased resilience, and digitalisation in rural areas, with potential applications in areas such as autonomous transport and medical sample handling.

The project is led by Lund University. At the Swedish Defence University, guest professor Daniel Ekwall is the project leader.