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Enabling Virtualized Wireless and Optical Coexistence for 5G and Beyond

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Efficient optical and wireless convergence for (beyond) 5G networks

The exponential growth in the use of bandwidth-hungry internet services requires new advances in optical data transmission technologies to achieve ultrahigh throughputs and minimal latencies. 5G systems – a combination of innovative radio and core network technologies – will integrate optical communications. Using an optical core to route 5G data raises significant questions about how wireless and optical technologies can coexist to provide smooth, end-to-end communication pathways. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EWOC project plans to develop a new converged optical wireless network solution, based on flexible and virtualised infrastructure, for the complete optimisation of resources for beyond 5G requirements. EWOC will target high-capacity, low-latency communications (40-90 GHz), providing the basis for a 50-fold improvement in spectral efficiency.

Objective

EWOC project aims at developing a novel converged optical wireless network solution relying on a flexible, virtualizable infrastructure, required for full resource optimisation beyond 5G (B5G) requirements. Fundamental innovation will be sought through merging of the enabling concepts of optical layer virtualization, high frequency mm-wave transmission, multiple antenna technology, cell densification, terra-over-fiber (ToF) based femtocell connectivity and cloud radio access network (C- RAN) architecture. EWOC will aim at high capacity, low latency communications (40-90 GHz frequency), providing the basis for a 50-fold improvement over the 5G baseline. This necessitates development of novel, femto-cell technology, and seamless coexistence with first round legacy deployment. Such scenario also requires novel channel models and simulation methodologies to attain the desired trade-off between coverage, throughput and densification limits. EWOC will rely on fiber-optic deployment towards ToF connectivity, as an “added on feature” for the C-RAN architecture supporting resource management of versatile services with varying demands. Scenario compliant optical fronthaul virtualisation techniques, designed to provide cost effective beyond state-of-the-art resource optimisation, will be pursued through novel optical transceiver schemes and software defined network-based digital signal processing techniques. Research and training
disciplines will serve as building blocks towards the scientific and socio-economic goals of increased capacity, coverage, flexibility, spectral efficiency, cost effectiveness, vendor agnosticism, and upgradability. EWOC provides a framework for promotion of such interdisciplinary innovation, with strong interoperability of models and methodologies from different disciplines. As such, EWOC training network is designed to foster opportunities for scientific and professional growth of ESRs from both topical and inter-disciplinary standpoints.

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Topic(s)

Call for proposal

HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-01

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Funding Scheme

HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit Grant

Coordinator

INSTITUTO DE TELECOMUNICACOES
Net EU contribution
€ 243 403,20
Address
Campus universitario de santiago universidade de aveiro
3810 193 Gloria e vera cruz
Portugal

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Activity type
Research Organisations
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Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (8)

Partners (5)

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EC signature date 28 June 2022
Last update: 25 August 2022

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101073265

European Union, 2023