Project description
Unlocking 6G to address connectivity challenges
As 5G networks push the boundaries of connectivity, the demand for more efficient resource utilisation, dynamic network programmability, and seamless integration across diverse connectivity domains becomes imperative. Current paradigms, such as service-based architecture and network slicing, are innovative but do not meet the evolving requirements of 6G networks. These networks require intelligent connectivity in pervasive cloud environments. In response, the EU-funded 6G-CLOUD project emerges, aiming to research, develop, and validate technologies for an AI-native and cloud-friendly system architecture atop the cloud continuum, ensuring flexible service composition and dynamic resource integration for the next generation of connectivity. With three proofs-of-concept and collaboration on architectural standardisation, 6G-CLOUD strives for maximum impact in shaping the future of connectivity.
Objective
"Service-based architecture in the 5G core network, disaggregated RAN, and network slicing are a few of the 5G network's innovative paradigms. There are however new requirements for 6G, such as the efficient use of integrated cloud resources, end-to-end network programmability, and the dynamic integration of multiple connectivity domains to realize intelligent connectivity across increasingly pervasive cloud environments. The 6G-Cloud project will research, develop, and validate key technologies to realize an artificial intelligence (AI)-native and cloud-friendly system architecture atop the cloud continuum. It will integrate cloud resources offered by multiple stakeholders and allow network functions from different 6G network segments to be composed flexibly and dynamically based on service needs in hybrid cloud environments. 6G-Cloud will address the following key topics: i) designing a holistic, AI-native service-oriented 6G system architecture atop a cloud continuum; ii) developing AI-driven cloud continuum and management frameworks and business interfaces for a multistakeholder environment; iii) defining an AI/machine learning (ML) framework for native-AI support in the 6G system; iv) supporting the 6G ""network-of-networks"" concept using service-oriented network design. 6G-Cloud will incorporate scalability, sustainability, resilience, and security requirements into system design. The concept will be validated by three well-defined proofs-of-concept and promoted through 6G architectural standardization work and open-source projects to reach maximum impact."
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
02150 Espoo
Finland