Project description
Calling on cellular networks to shape Europe’s 6G future
As the demand for ultra-high capacity, low-latency, and energy-efficient 6G cellular networks rises, the EU-funded PROTEUS-6G project aims to address the challenge. Through advanced packet-optical x-haul networking infrastructure, PROTEUS-6G leverages novel software-programmable, photonic-integrated-circuit based subsystems. These are operated under an intelligent software management system, streamlining network operations. By enabling flexible functional splits and adapting to dynamic network demands, PROTEUS-6G ensures the efficient use of resources. The consortium’s focus spans from academia to industry, promising groundbreaking solutions in wireless-optical connectivity. With its collective expertise, PROTEUS-6G will reinforce European leadership in 6G networks and foster economic and societal prosperity.
Objective
PROTEUS-6G focuses on the development of advanced packet-optical x-haul networking infrastructure, relying on novel software-programmable photonic-integrated-circuit based subsystems operated under an intelligent software management system, capable of simplifying and optimizing network operations and supporting future ultra-high capacity, low-latency and energy-efficient 6G cellular and cell-free MIMO radio access networks.
The targeted innovations will enable efficient utilisation of packet and optical resources (spectral subcarriers and spatial lanes), realizing the vision of flexible functional splits (FFSs), adapting the fronthaul, under dynamically customizable operational conditions, to the network demands, for varying distribution of users, traffic demands and use-cases.
To implement the 6G optical-enabled radio-access network, the consortium will develop ultra-low energy (low-pJ/bit), ultra-high capacity (0.8 Tb/s) and fast-reconfigurable (sub-ms) software-programmable solutions (i.e. transceivers, multiplexers and fast optical switches integrating tuneable lasers/filters) based on novel photonic processing/switching schemes, to be reconfigured by an intelligent control plane optimizing the utilization of resources across the front-/mid-/back-haul continuum and reducing unnecessary opto-electronic transitions, thus collectively improving performance while minimizing the environmental impact.
The PROTEUS-6G consortium covers the entire value-chain of industry/academia organizations focusing on implementing wireless-optical connectivity solutions. The participating experts possess demonstrated expertise re delivering on their promises as indicated by their research track record and exploitation activities towards commercialization of new products and contributions to standards. Their collective development of the targeted innovations is going to reenforce the European leadership in 6G networks thus paving the way for prosperity of Europe’s economy and society.
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
265 04 Rio Patras
Greece