Watch an interview with the authors of this article to learn even more! (Video 1).

The Power of Global Partnerships (SDG 17)

The United Nations has created seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the aim of improving our world. These goals address several global challenges, including making sure people have enough food and clean water, and protecting the environment against pollution and climate change. Among these goals, SDG 17, which is called Partnerships for the Goals, focuses on making global partnerships strong, so that countries with a lot of resources can share those resources and work with countries that are still developing. Without partnerships, it will be almost impossible to reach important global goals such as ending world hunger, protecting our environment, or making education accessible worldwide. But by working together, we can solve bigger problems and ensure the world becomes a better place for everyone.

So far, progress on SDG 17 is mixed. Some positive things have happened, like more help from richer countries available for low-income countries and more people having access to technology. But it is still hard for low-income countries to have everything they need to provide a good life for their people. This is because these countries must deal with rising prices, big debts, and lack of money for government projects [1]. All countries must come together to help, and this is where SDG 17 comes in.

Science To The Rescue

What role does science play in achieving SDG 17? Science helps us tackle global challenges through creative ideas and collaboration. Take satellite, for example—they are not just machines orbiting the Earth, they are critical for progress (Figure 1). Acting as the planet’s eyes in the sky, satellites monitor environmental changes, track weather patterns, and collect essential data. They also connect the world through a vast communication network, enabling the smooth exchange of information. Harnessing satellite science and technology can strengthen global partnerships and help countries work together more effectively to achieve SDGs (Table 1). Satellite connectivity helps us address some of the world’s biggest challenges and ensures everyone, no matter where they live, can access the data they need to address important issues [2, 3]. Our group works on satellite-based internet connectivity [4].

How Can Satellites Help?

But how can satellites stop people from going hungry and solve other issues on Earth? Satellites look down at farms from space to check the soil and see how crops are growing [5]. They can even communicate directly with sensors installed on farms to provide farmers with important information about the crops, soil, and environmental conditions. This helps farmers know when to plant their crops and how to take better care of them. Satellite data makes it possible for farmers to predict how much food will grow, detect crop diseases ahead of time so they can prevent them, or act to avoid droughts. When farming improves, more food is produced to feed people hunger and malnutrition are reduced. Improved farming also helps local economies by creating jobs and opportunities for trade. Ultimately, better farming means stronger, healthier communities with better lives for everyone involved.

On top of all this, satellites can help many people just by bringing internet to their areas. Internet can help reduce inequalities around the world by creating job opportunities and giving people access to education. Satellites can even allow doctors to talk to patients far away and help them stay healthy! Importantly, satellites can support internet connectivity in post-disaster situations, like after hurricanes or floods, by helping affected communities access valuable information and resources so they can recover faster [6, 7].

But that is still not all! Satellites also help keep roads and bridges safe, by taking pictures and gathering information to send back to Earth. These data help engineers plan where to build new roads and fix old ones. Good roads and bridges make it easier for businesses to grow, which helps the economy. Satellites also watch for signs of climate change. They can spot high levels of pollution or when the planet gets too hot. This information helps governments and scientists come up with plans to keep our planet safe and healthy. We all know teamwork is essential for solving big global problems, and now, because of satellites, countries all over the world can share important information, helping to solve many problems.

Enhancing Satellite Communications With 6G Technology

One-way satellites support humanity is through wireless communica tion. Wireless technologies let us send information through the air without needing wires, which is how our cell phones and internet devices communicate (Figure 2). 5G is the fifth generation of this technology, and it made our internet much faster and more reliable than before. Now, we are moving on to 6G, the next step, which promises even faster speeds and better connections. This new generation is linked to three key technologies we are focusing on in our research.

The first technology has to do with the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum can be understood as a giant rainbow of invisible waves, with each “color” representing a different kind of wave. The high range of the spectrum, like the far end of the electromagnetic rainbow, has waves that are faster and smaller. Traditionally, our phones use microwaves, which are in the middle part of this rainbow. By using the higher range of the electromagnetic spectrum, we can harness the power of the tinier, faster waves, which allow us to get faster connections [8].

The second technology that we focus on involves the distance satellite orbit away from Earth. The distance between Earth and our satellites affects wireless communications in several ways [9–11]. Low Earth orbit satellites are positioned closer to Earth, making them useful for sending and receiving signals for quicker communication, because the signals do not have as much of a delay. On the other hand, medium Earth orbit satellites are positioned further away, which makes them better for broadcasting videos or for navigation uses, like a car’s GPS.

Finally, our research investigates beamforming technology, which improves how satellites work by focusing their signals exactly where we need them—just like pointing a flashlight beam in a specific direction. Beamforming helps make the signals from satellites stronger and allows them to reach further [12].

Together, these technologies show 6G’s potential to revolutionize connectivity, making it faster and more reliable across various and challenging locations. When satellite signals become stronger and faster with 6G, they can reach even the most remote places on Earth, connecting people who were once very far apart. Some of our other exciting projects involve finding new ways for satellites to communicate with each other and cooperate with Earth’s existing communication infrastructure [13], and exploring how satellites can help us learn more about our oceans by looking deep below the water’s surface to study marine life and water quality. We are also developing a project using solar-powered or radio energy-powered base stations to create Wi-Fi hotspots with a range of up to 1 km [14]. The hotspot connects to the internet via existing infrastructure or satellites, enabling people in isolated areas to browse the web, communicate, and learn using smartphones, tablets, or laptops.

What We Learned in A Nutshell?

In this article, we explained how satellite-based connections play a vital role in achieving SDG 17 and how they also help us to advance all the other SDGs. With the help of 6G satellite communications, we can help farmers increase food production, connect people to the internet, contribute to environmental conservation, and monitor the overall health of our planet. Nonetheless, there is room for improvement. To enhance satellite technology, we must do more research, exploring ways to make these technologies work underground, underwater, and in other challenging conditions where transmitting signals is difficult. Furthermore, it is important to make satellites more maneuverable to avoid collisions, protect them from interference from other wireless sources, and improve communication security by protecting satellites from cyber threats and unauthorized access that could interfere with their function.

You can be part of this exciting journey! By nurturing your curiosity, delving into science, and dreaming big, you can support scientists in this quest. One day, you might develop groundbreaking ideas that could further enhance our world, aiding us in achieving new sustainable development targets. If you continue your exploration and collaborate with other young minds—like SDG 17 teaches us—you might just be the next hero in line to make the world a better place!

Glossary

Satellite: ↑ A special machine that orbits, or flies around, the Earth in space. It helps us send messages, like phone calls, and take pictures of our planet.

Connectivity: ↑ How computers and devices all over the world link together so people can share information, talk to each other, and use websites, apps, and online tools.

Wireless Communication: ↑ A way for people or devices to share messages or information without using wires, by sending invisible signals through the air.

6G: ↑ The next generation of wireless technology that will come after 5G. 6G will make our phones even faster, more powerful, and able to do more things.

Electromagnetic Spectrum: ↑ A big range of invisible energy waves that travel through space. It includes things like radio waves, microwaves, light, and X-rays.

Beamforming Technology: ↑ A smart way for antennas to send signals in a specific direction instead of all around. It is like shining a flashlight to help the signal go straight to where it is needed, making it faster and clearer.

Wi-Fi Hotspot: ↑ Internet access point that allows you to connect your electronic device. It is handy when you are out and need to get online, like at a coffee shop.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ruben Costa and Nicki Talbot at KAUST for their invaluable support during the initial writing stage and review process, without which this collection would not have been possible. We also extend our gratitude to the KAUST Office of Sustainability and the UNDP Saudi Arabia Country Office for their dedication to raising awareness of the UN SDGs in our journey toward a more sustainable world.