Service-oriented 6G network architecture for distributed, intelligent, and sustainable cloud-native communication systems

Project Information

6G-CLOUD

Grant agreement ID: 101139073

DOI

10.3030/101139073

EC signature date 8 December 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 October 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 4 261 968,98

EU contribution

€ 3 999 938,38

Coordinated by

TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
Finland

CORDIS provides links to public deliverables and publications of HORIZON projects.

Links to deliverables and publications from FP7 projects, as well as links to some specific result types such as dataset and software, are dynamically retrieved from OpenAIRE .

Deliverables

Documents, reports (4)

Initial results on NS composition, distributed AI/ML model, and NDT

This report includes the first results regarding service-oriented design (including NetApps), interfaces, and mechanisms for UE-RAN-Core NFs integration, the first set of distributed AI/ML models for RAN NFs, and the use of NDT in an AI/ML framework for RAN control.

Prototype plan and evaluation methodology

Describe the prototype development plan for three PoCs and define the evaluation methods and criteria as a reference for further PoC evaluation and architecture analysis.

Initial results on cloud continuum framework and resource orchestration framework

The first design of the cloud continuum framework and continuum management and orchestration framework, with basic functionalities in the building blocks, interfaces, and resource partition mechanisms.

Dissemination and Communication Strategy and Plan

Provide the dissemination and communication foundation, including the strategic guidance to direct 6G-Cloud community building activities for broad and durable impact.

Publications

Other (3)

Data-Driven Orchestration for Distributed RAN Intelligent Controller Placement in 6G Networks

Author(s): E. Nezhad, A. Di Maio, T. Braun
Published in: ACM SAC 2025, 2025
Publisher: ACM

AI/ML as a Key Enabler of 6G Networks: Methodology, Approach and AI-Mechanisms in SNS JU

Author(s): Trichias, Konstantinos; Christopoulou, Maria; Porambage, Pawani; Benzaid, Chafika; Vassiliou, Vasos; Artuñedo Guillén, David; Tsolkas, Dimitris; Avgeris, Marios; Papagianni, Chrysa; Jain, Akshay; Kilper, Daniel; Chen, Tao
Published in: 2025
Publisher: SNS-JU
DOI: 10.5281/ZENODO.14623109

Smart Networks and Services Innovation to Support Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR)

Author(s): Petersen, K., Lund, D., Trevlakis, S. E., Pereira, A., Maliatsos, K., Politi, C. (Tanya) ., & Papaioannou, P.
Publisher: Zenodo
DOI: 10.5281/ZENODO.18613557

Conference proceedings (24)

Implementation-Aware AI Management Framework for AI-Native Networks

Author(s): Sławomir Kukliński, Robert Kołakowski, Bartłomiej Mastej
Published in: 2025 4th International Conference on 6G Networking (6GNet), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/6GNET68413.2025.11314139

Design and Evaluation of a Network Digital Twin Framework for 5G/6G Architectures

Author(s): Ioannis Vasalos, Maria Christopoulou, Averkios Vasalos, Michail Alexandros Kourtis, Nikos Dimitriou, George Xylouris
Published in: 2025 21st International Conference on Distributed Computing in Smart Systems and the Internet of Things (DCOSS-IoT), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/DCOSS-IOT65416.2025.00139

Data-Driven Orchestration for Distributed RAN Intelligent Controller Placement in 6G Networks

Author(s): Elham Hasheminezhad, Antonio Di Maio, Torsten Braun
Published in: Proceedings of the 40th ACM/SIGAPP Symposium on Applied Computing, 2025
Publisher: ACM
DOI: 10.1145/3672608.3707972

MARC-6G: Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Distributed Context-Aware SFC Deployment and Migration in 6G Networks

Author(s): Solomon Fikadie Wassie, Eric Samikwa, Antonio Di Maio, Torsten Braun
Published in: 2025 21st International Conference on Network and Service Management (CNSM), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.23919/CNSM67658.2025.11297500

EnSplit: Dynamic DRL Energy-Aware Split Inference for AI-Based UE Apps in 6G Networks

Author(s): Sayantini Majumdar, Eric Samikwa, Konstantinos Samdanis, Emmanouil Pateromichelakis, Elham Hashemi Nezhad, Torsten Braun
Published in: 2026 IEEE 12th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/NETSOFT70012.2026.11603456

Automated End-To-End AI/ML Lifecycles for Radio Management in 6G Networks

Author(s): Haya Al Kassir, Anastasios Giannopoulos, Sotirios Spantideas, Panagiotis Trakadas, George Xylouris, Michail-Alexandros Kourtis, Emmanouil Pateromichelakis, Konstantinos Samdanis, Sławomir Kukliński, Tao Chen, Zaharias D. Zaharis
Published in: 2024 IEEE Future Networks World Forum (FNWF), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/FNWF63303.2024.11028818

POLAR: Permutation-Oriented DeepSets Learning for Adaptive Beamforming in 6G AI-Native Networks

Author(s): Haya Al Kassir, Anastasios Giannopoulos, Sotirios Spantideas, Maria Lamprini Bartsioka, Panagiotis Trakadas, Tao Chen
Published in: 2026 IEEE 12th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/NETSOFT70012.2026.11603524

Ambiguity Resolution of Two Conformal Leaky-Wave Antennas via Deep Learning

Author(s): A. Gil-Martínez, J. Perez-Valero, J. A. López-Pastor, J. L. Gómez-Tornero, A. Skarmeta-Gómez
Published in: 2025 International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation (IPIN), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/IPIN66788.2025.11213126

Load Balancing Optimization in Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) using Deep Reinforcement Learning

Author(s): Mohamed Amine Ouamri, Gordana Barb, Daljeet Singh, Florin Alexa
Published in: 2022 International Symposium on Electronics and Telecommunications (ISETC), 2024
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/ISETC56213.2022.10010335

A Native Integration of Digital Twins and the AI/ML Framework in the 6G Architecture

Author(s): Sławomir Kukliński, Gines Garcia-Aviles, Nikos Dimitriou, Maria Christopoulou, Antonio Skarmeta, Bartłomiej Mastej
Published in: 2024 IEEE Future Networks World Forum (FNWF), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/FNWF63303.2024.11028777

Cyber defense framework for 5G/6G using a Network Digital Twin

Author(s): Ioannis Vasalos, Efstathios Zaragkas, Athina Vekraki, Maria Christopoulou, Michail Alexandros Kourtis, George Xilouris, Nikos Dimitriou
Published in: 2026 IEEE International Conference on Smart Computing Workshops and Other Affiliated events (SmartComp Companion), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/SMARTCOMP-COMPANION70724.2026.00028

Mlops as a Service for AI-Native 6G Networks

Author(s): Sławomir Kukliński, Robert Kołakowski, Bartłomiej Mastej
Published in: 2025 IEEE 11th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/NETSOFT64993.2025.11080538

Deep Reinforcement Learning for Context-Aware Online Service Function Chain Deployment and Migration over 6G Networks

Author(s): Solomon Fikadie Wassie, Antonio Di Maio, Torsten Braun
Published in: Proceedings of the 40th ACM/SIGAPP Symposium on Applied Computing, 2025
Publisher: ACM
DOI: 10.1145/3672608.3707975

AI-Driven Self-Healing in Cloud-Native 6G Networks Through Dynamic Server Scaling

Author(s): Anastasios Giannopoulos, Sotirios Spantideas, Panagiotis Trakadas, Jesus Perez-Valero, Ginés Garcia-Aviles, Antonio Skarmeta Gomez
Published in: 2025 IEEE 11th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/NETSOFT64993.2025.11080631

Multi-criteria Optimization Algorithms specially tailored for Programmable Networks with Quality Management

Author(s): Stanisław Kozdrowski, Wojciech Makos, Zbigniew Kopertowski, Sławomir Sujecki
Published in: Proceedings of the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference Companion, 2025
Publisher: ACM
DOI: 10.1145/3712255.3726768

Attention-Based Actor–Critic DRL for Online Service Function Chain Composition in 6G Networks

Author(s): Solomon Fikadie Wassie, Eric Samikwa, Torsten Braun, Sławomir Kukliński, David Jia, Véronique Capdevielle
Published in: 2026 IFIP Networking Conference (IFIP Networking), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.23919/IFIPNETWORKING70592.2026.11579195

DERRIC: Decentralized Reinforced RAN Intelligent Controller Orchestration for 6G Networks

Author(s): Elham Hashemi Nezhad, Antonio Di Maio, Torsten Braun
Published in: 2025 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/WCNC61545.2025.10978840

Interoperable RApp/xApp Control over O-RAN for Mobility-aware Dynamic Spectrum Allocation

Author(s): Anastasios Giannopoulos, Sotirios Spantideas, Maria Lamprini Bartsioka, Panagiotis Trakadas
Published in: 2026 Joint European Conference on Networks and Communications & 6G Summit (EuCNC/6G Summit), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/EUCNC/6GSUMMIT68295.2026.11577650

Rethinking AI-Powered Service Orchestration: The Case for Decentralization

Author(s): Jesus Perez-Valero, Gines Garcia-Aviles, Anastasios E. Giannopoulos, Sotirios T. Spantideas, Antonio Skarmeta, Sławomir Kukliński
Published in: 2025 IEEE 11th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/NETSOFT64993.2025.11080596

Decentralized Federated Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for RAN Controller Orchestration in 6G

Author(s): Elham Hashemi Nezhad, Eric Samikwa, Torsten Braun
Published in: 2026 IEEE 12th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/NETSOFT70012.2026.11603539

Reinforced Fairness-Aware Multi-Agent Self-Organization for 6G Radio Access Network Orchestration

Author(s): Elham Hashemi Nezhad, Antonio Di Maio, Torsten Braun
Published in: 2025 IEEE 50th Conference on Local Computer Networks (LCN), 2025
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/LCN65610.2025.11146320

Migration-Driven Energy Consumption Optimisation Atop Cloud Continuum

Author(s): Sławomir Kukliński, Robert Kołakowski, Bartłomiej Mastej
Published in: 2026 IEEE 12th International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), 2026
Publisher: IEEE
DOI: 10.1109/NETSOFT70012.2026.11603475

Dynamic Load Balancing in SD-WAN with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Author(s): Baptiste Cruvellier, David Jia, Vania Conan, Gentian Jakllari
Published in: IEEE GLOBECOM 2025, 2025
Publisher: IEEE

The Architecture of AI and Communication Integration towards 6G: An O-RAN Evolution

Author(s): Z Li, Q Wang, Y Wang, T Chen
Published in: ACM MobiCom '24: Proceedings of the 30th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, 2024
Publisher: ACM
DOI: 10.1145/3636534.370155

Peer reviewed articles (6)

5G/6G Architecture Evolution for XR and Metaverse: Feasibility Study, Security, and Privacy Challenges for Smart Culture Applications

Author(s): Maria Christopoulou, Ioannis Koufos, George Xilouris, Nikos Dimitriou
Published in: IEEE Access, Issue 13, 2025, ISSN 2169-3536
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3578595

Minimizing Energy and Latency in LEOS-Assisted Open RAN Architecture Toward AI of Things

Author(s): Qingtian Wang, Siyu Chen, Changlin Yang, Zexu Li, Yue Wang, Tao Chen
Published in: IEEE Internet of Things Journal, Issue 12, 2025, ISSN 2327-4662
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
DOI: 10.1109/JIOT.2025.3533600

Evolution of RAN-Core Convergence Toward 6G: An Analysis of the Key Technologies, Principles, and Challenges

Author(s): Emmanouil Pateromichelakis, Konstantinos Samdanis, Sayantini Majumdar, Tao Chen, Nikos Dimitriou
Published in: IEEE Communications Standards Magazine, 2025, ISSN 2471-2825
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
DOI: 10.1109/MCOMSTD.2025.3602159

AI-Powered Orchestration-as-a-Service for 6G Networks: The 6G-CLOUD View

Author(s): Jesus Perez-Valero, Gines Garcia-Aviles, Antonio Skarmeta, Tao Chen
Published in: IEEE Communications Standards Magazine, Issue 10, 2026, ISSN 2471-2825
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
DOI: 10.1109/MCOMSTD.2026.3656636

Smart Mission Critical Service Management: Architecture, Deployment Options, and Experimental Results

Author(s): Sotirios T. Spantideas, Anastasios E. Giannopoulos, Panagiotis Trakadas
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, 2024, ISSN 1932-4537
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
DOI: 10.1109/TNSM.2024.3498348

Toward 6G Security: A European Perspective on Needs, Gaps, and Priorities Based on SNS-JU Project Review

Author(s): Noelia Pérez Palma, Rodrigo Asensio-Garriga, Antonio Skármeta
Published in: IEEE Communications Standards Magazine, 2026, ISSN 2471-2825
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
DOI: 10.1109/MCOMSTD.2026.3671362