TUDOR
The Towards Ubiquitous 3D Open Resilient Networks (TUDOR) project was a flagship UK research programme targeting low-TRL exploration into the architectures and technologies that will define the 6G era. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), TUDOR brought together leading telecom organisations, researchers, and technology experts to investigate how terrestrial, airborne, and space-based network infrastructure can be seamlessly integrated. As Technical Lead Partner, AWTG played a central role in defining the architecture, guiding system-level research, and ensuring practical alignment with open telecommunications standards. The project aimed to position the UK at the forefront of global 6G research by leveraging domestic strengths in satellite, wireless, AI, and data science.
Project Partners
TUDOR’s completion marks a major step in the UK’s strategic roadmap toward 6G. By delivering foundational insights into how 3D open networks can support future communication services, the consortium has catalysed ongoing research, ecosystem development, and policy discussion around next-generation infrastructure. The project's collaborative model and emphasis on openness, resilience, and convergence continue to inspire further innovation across the UK's telecom landscape.
Project Status
The TUDOR project concluded in January 2025, having successfully delivered critical research and early-stage design models for 6G-era 3D networks. Key highlights include: - Conceptual architectures enabling seamless interoperability across terrestrial, UAV, HAPS, and satellite networks, with potential applications in defence, emergency response, and remote connectivity. - Demonstrations of AI-enhanced orchestration, enabling intelligent routing, resource allocation, and fault tolerance across multi-layered infrastructures. Use-case models highlighting resilient communications for disaster zones and rural broadband, showing how airborne and spaceborne assets can fill critical coverage gaps. - Strengthened collaboration between UK satellite providers, telecom vendors, and research institutions to accelerate the national 6G innovation agenda.
Delivering Impact
Under AWTG’s technical leadership, the project bridged the gap between visionary research and real-world feasibility ensuring that the UK’s 6G ambitions are grounded in practical, scalable technology paths. TUDOR’s outputs are now informing standards bodies, policy frameworks, and new academic-industrial R&D partnerships.
