Project description
Laying the groundwork for the edge networks of tomorrow
As data demand continues to increase, current edge networks struggle to meet the requirements of emerging technologies like 6G. Traditional infrastructures lack the agility and scalability necessary to support the anticipated levels of data traffic and connectivity demands. Moreover, energy consumption and latency remain significant challenges in existing edge networks, hindering their effectiveness and sustainability. In this context, the EU-funded ECO-eNET project aims to improve network efficiency and capacity. The project will pioneer a new edge network paradigm by melding optical and radio transport. It will construct an agile edge mesh through advanced technologies like photonic radio fixed wireless and free space optical transmission. New monitoring and control protocols will streamline operations, while AI integration will optimise network performance.
Objective
The ECO-eNET project will perform foundational research on emerging transmission technologies, to form a new confluent edge network that brings together optical and radio transport to scale to new levels of efficiency and capacity for 6G, by integrating confluent front-/mid-/back-haul (xhaul) with cell-free and distributed multiple-input multiple-output based access networks. The combination of photonic radio fixed wireless and free space optical transmission is used for fixed wireless connections, enabling the creation of an edge mesh network. New monitoring and slice-aware control protocols will unify the radio intelligent controllers with the transport software defined networking to efficiently deliver high-capacity flex grid wavelength multiplexed signals over standard single mode fibre and the fixed wireless links. Radio signals can be flexibly processed at different split phy points throughout the network or remain in analog radio over fibre format end-to-end.
The unique ECO-eNET combination of wired and wireless transport is further exploited for wireless control of the wired network segments, enhanced clock synchronization, and optical space and wavelength switching, groomed over FlexE ethernet. AI layer controls are added to orchestrate the federation of edge processing and splitting of AI models for optimum efficiency in executing user applications and smart network control functions. The ECO-eNET project brings together an interdisciplinary team of industry and academic partners to explore the full potential of these important emerging technologies to support the capacity, ultra-high energy efficiency, low latency, and robustness needed in 6G networks.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile networkfixed wireless network
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technology
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
412 96 GOTEBORG
Sweden