Beyond the state-of the art:
Definition of the core architectural components and specifications of the novel MARSAL network architecture
Alignment of the cell-free networking concept with O-RAN
Analysis of a mmWave solution to provide inter-O-DU coordination
Development of novel radio resource scheduling algorithms
Design of a new RFIC that supports the 60 GHz standard
Initial design of a 2x2 60 GHz hybrid MIMO system
Design and of the MARSAL’s optical Midhaul transport network
Design of resource allocation algorithms in optical-wireless networks
Instantiation of a MEC platform based on ETSI MEC functionalities
Coordination of the Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator and the Multi-access Edge Application Orchestrator (MEAO)
Definition of the Service Function Chain problem for the MARSAL architecture
Design of MARSAL’s Decision Engine and Analytic Engine
Development of the first steps for the implementation of privacy preserving pipelines and of a blockchain-based Smart Contract platform
Development of a neural-network-based solution for the provision of privacy to data representations
Extraction of advanced telemetry using P4 programmable switches
Development of a solution for the protection of users against malware and other attacks from the network.
Final definition of MARSAL network components and architecture
Application of reconfigurable functional splits in cell-free networks
Provision of higher level of inter-O- DU operability, of the baseband for MIMO at 60 GHz, and of the mmWave inter-O-DU link
Optimal O-DU cooperation algorithms
Design and validation of Near-RT RIC algorithms
Development of trajectory prediction techniques for dynamic cluster reshaping
Development of data-driven O-RU clustering algorithms
Novel traffic management algorithms that apply load balancing methodologies
Novel ML-based network slicing algorithms
Disaggregation of MEAO’s functionalities
Implementation of privacy preserving data representation algorithms and of the smart contracts platform
Development of policy-driven data integrity and privacy protocols
Development of the P4 assisted network security approach
Integration and testing of the MARSAL software components
Demonstration of MARSAL’s two PoCs and all related scenarios
Impacts:
MARSAL’s innovation aims at providing “smart connectivity technologies for platforms integrating ubiquitous connectivity, storage, and computing resources opening for new service and business models”, “smart connectivity platforms integrating technologies and architectures towards perceived zero latency”, “network scalability towards a high number of resource-constrained IoT devices, multiplicity of service requirements, and new user-controlled connectivity paradigms”, “characterisation and availability of secure and trusted environments for software based virtualised networks, including underlying hardware limitations and enabling trusted multi-tenancy”, “innovative radio spectrum use, novel strategies for coverage/service extension, support of novel wireless technologies and use cases through platforms, usability of today unexplored spectrum”, “dynamic scalability of network capabilities through availability of managed and enhanced optical resources”, “characterisation of ML and blockchain technologies in the connectivity domain, notably for network/service management and security”, and “significant reduction of total cost of ownership through improved operational and capital expenditure efficiency, and energy consumption”. The aforementioned impacts are achieved through the MARSAL innovation in its three pillars, while their effectiveness will be shown through the implementation of the 2 MARSAL POCs.
MARSAL’s societal impact is to contribute to the provision of the 6G network deployment in Europe, through its capabilities to provide new innovative services that demand 6G capabilities. This novel overall approach will also enable telecom and service providers to vision network configurations towards the 6G era that are able to optimize their resource usage thus reducing both CAPEX and OPEX, while also offering secured 6G services at lower costs to consumers.
