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2005-2006 Work Programme
2.4.5 Mobile and Wireless Systems and Platforms Beyond 3G
Objectives
To realise the vision of "Optimally Connected Anywhere, Anytime" supported by all system levels from access methods and networks to service platforms and services. Preparatory work has characterized Systems beyond 3G as a horizontal communication model, where different terrestrial access levels and technologies are combined to complement each other in an optimum way for different service requirements and radio environments.
Outcome expected from this work is:
- a consolidated European approach to serving mobile users with appropriate enablers for applications and services. These may include the personal level (Personal/Body Area/Ad Hoc Network) the local/home level (W-LAN, UWB) the cellular level (GPRS, UMTS), the wider area level (DxB-T, BWA) and also DVB-H in the context of broadcasting to mobile handheld devices, possibly complemented by a satellite overlay network (e.g. S-DMB);
- a consolidated European approach to technology, systems and services, including location-based services, notably in the field of future standards (e.g. for access) and in international fora (WRC, ITU, 3GPP-IETF, ETSI, DVB...) where the issue of systems beyond 3G is addressed;
- a consolidated European approach regarding the spectrum requirements (terrestrial and satellites) in the evolution beyond 3G and a clear European understanding of the novel ways of optimising spectrum usage when moving beyond 3G.
Focus
- A generalised access network, including novel air interfaces, based on a common, flexible and seamless all IP (Internet Protocol) infrastructure supporting scalability and mobility.
- Advanced resource management techniques allowing optimum usage of the scarce spectrum resource enabling dynamic spectrum allocation and contributing to the reduction of electromagnetic radiation.
- Global roaming for all access technologies, with horizontal and vertical hand-over and seamless services provision, with negotiation capabilities including mobility, security and Quality of Service based on end to end IPv6 architecture.
- Inter-working between access technologies and with the core network at both service and control planes, including advanced service and composite network management.
- Advanced architectures and technologies that enable reconfigurability at all layers (terminal, network and services).
- Advanced wireless network technologies enabling robust connectivity in difficult environment and supporting their integration into ad-hoc, sensors and communication networks. Key challenges deal with scalability of network protocols to large number of nodes, design of simple, secure, efficient and power-conserving protocols for different network operations, advanced signal and antenna processing, adaptive waveforms, diversity techniques and millimetric wavebands exploitation.
- Enabling technologies for mobile service creation allowing rapid service deployment and testing independently of specific execution platforms based on open technologies guaranteeing interoperability via the development of a structured logical mobile platform architecture.
Research is expected to be placed in a system context, and should help provide full seamless and nomadic user access to new classes of feature rich applications, as well as person-to-person, device-to-device and device-to-person applications. Continuity with already launched initiatives is encouraged. International collaboration is essential, notably in the context of global standardisation.
These research objectives could be accompanied by SSAs aiming at supporting the work of a mobile and wireless European Technology Platform.
Consortia are encouraged to secure support from other sources as well and to build on related national initiatives and the EUREKA Celtic initiative.
Satellite parts of the work should be clearly placed in the context of related ESA efforts. Activities on satellite communications are carried out in coordination with the activities in the thematic priority on "aeronautics and space".
- Instruments:
- IPs and NoEs will be the predominant instruments, complemented by STREPs. SSAs are expected to cover the strategic objective in its entirety.
- Indicative budget:
- IPs, NoEs: 65% ; STREPs, SSAs: 35%
- Call information:
- IST Call 4