Keynote Speaker

Antonio Franchi

European Space Agency

Biography: Antonio Franchi works at the European Space Agency as the Head of the 5G/6G NTN Programme Office in the Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate.

Antonio has over 30 years of experience in the satellite telecommunications industry.

Prior to ESA, Antonio worked for over 20 years with a major global satellite operator, spearheading a new generation of satellite communications systems.

Antonio received an MSc in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome and an MBA from the London Business School.

He is author of 30+ articles and papers published at international conferences and professional magazines and he holds six international patents in the satcom field.

Title: Beyond Bars: How 6G, AI and Satellites Are Rewriting the Rules of Connectivity 

Abstract:  This keynote examines how the convergence of 5G/6G, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), artificial intelligence and Direct-to-Device (D2D) communications is transforming future network architectures. It highlights how satellites are becoming native elements of 6G systems, how AI is enabling intelligent orchestration and resilience, and how D2D services open new frontiers for emergency, IoT and immersive applications. The talk concludes with the role of large-scale experimentation platforms and international collaboration in accelerating deployment and shaping global standards for AI-native, space-enabled networks.