Problem Statement and Need for SAFE-6G
Current operator-centric 4G/5G architectures centralise key functions, creating bottlenecks as billions of devices and diverse services — from XR to mission-critical IoT — join the network. Europe’s 6G vision calls for human-centric, open, and sovereign systems with trustworthiness — safety, security, privacy, resilience, and reliability — built in from the start, without compromising agility or innovation.
As network functions move to cloud-native, virtualised, and disaggregated deployments across the edge–cloud continuum, the attack surface grows. Open interfaces, third-party apps, and federated deployments bring innovation but also risks, including untested components, data exposure, and complex governance. Existing 5G security frameworks, designed for centralised architectures, are insufficient. SAFE‑6G addresses this by treating security as holistic trustworthiness, balancing protection with performance, using cognitive automation, and giving users control over trust policies and data ownership.
SAFE-6G re-architects the 6G core into User Service Nodes (USN) and Network Service Nodes (NSN), enabling per-user instantiation of services, policies, and trust functions as modular, cloud-native microservices across the edge-to-cloud continuum. A cognitive coordinator, powered by explainable AI/ML, orchestrates intent-driven configuration, third-party innovation, and seamless trusted service mobility, making trust a measurable Key Value Indicator (KVI).
Five trust functions — Safety, Security, Privacy, Resilience, and Reliability — are dynamically balanced by the coordinator, supported by federated AI and an xAI-enhanced MLOps framework. Users interact through a chatbot that translates natural-language intents into trust configurations with transparent explanations of AI decisions.
Pathway to Impact
- Define 6G trustworthiness requirements and deliver a reference architecture, validated through immersive/metaverse use‑cases.
- Design cognitive coordination for trust, integrating federated and explainable AI, ethical AI certification, and differential privacy.
- Implement the five trust functions with zero‑trust principles, blockchain‑enabled credentials, advanced anomaly detection, and zero‑touch lifecycle automation.
- Adopt a cloud‑native, MetaOS‑compatible architecture for interoperability, scalability, and sustainable integration into future deployments.
- Validate via metaverse pilots, applying rigorous KPI/KVI frameworks under diverse threat models.
- Maximise adoption and impact through active dissemination, standardisation input, capacity building, and engagement with industry, regulators, and open‑source communities.
Expected Scale and Significance
By delivering a blueprint and validated prototype for natively trustworthy, user‑centric 6G, SAFE‑6G is poised to:
- Reduce vulnerabilities in multi‑stakeholder edge–cloud deployments;
- Empower users and verticals to control trust policies and data governance;
- Lower barriers to innovation via open, secure API ecosystems;
- Provide measurable trustworthiness KPIs/KVIs that can inform EU policy and standardisation;
- Contribute to Europe’s leadership in secure, human‑centric network technology.
