This fully funded PhD position is available under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (DN) project "FOCAL" (Free-space Optical Communications for Aerial-satellite networks).Offer DetailsPhD position title: Architecture design and effective routing for optical multi-layered space/aerial networksObjectives: The aim of this PhD thesis is to investigate efficient architecture of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) to achieve high connectivity with fewer resources. This includes:Modeling network nodes, terminals, and communication channelsAssessing the quality of end-to-end connections and developing handover solutionsConsidering quantum key distribution alongside classical optical linksSupervision: The PhD will be supervised by Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute, Berlin, Germany; Technical University of Berlin, Germany; and Thales Alenia Space, Toulouse, France.Project OverviewThe FOCAL project aims to develop innovative aerial and space optical wireless technologies to provide ubiquitous connectivity, resilience, and quantum-proof security for future telecommunication networks. It seeks to address the limitations of current radio frequency satellite systems by leveraging free-space optical technology, which offers higher capacity and enhanced security through quantum key distribution. The project involves a consortium of 16 academic and 10 industrial partners across 8 countries, providing a comprehensive training environment for doctoral candidates. #J-18808-Ljbffr