Project description
Machine learning-based networking and computing infrastructure management for beyond 5G
The EU-funded MARSAL project proposes a new paradigm of elastic virtual infrastructures, developed to deliver end-to-end transfer, processing and storage services in a cost-efficient, flexible and secured way. MARSAL focuses on three pillars: (i) network design, where MARSAL pushes a cell-free networking concept, which will be implemented and integrated with existing vRAN elements and aligned with the O-RAN Alliance; (ii) virtual elastic infrastructure, which is built around the Elastic Edge Computing notion, aiming to optimise the MEC functionality and the network slicing management systems via a hierarchy of analytic and decision engines; and (iii) network security, where MARSAL will develop novel machine learning-based mechanisms that guarantee privacy and security in multi-tenancy environments for end users and tenants.
Objective
5G mobile networks will be soon available to handle all types of applications and to provide service to massive numbers of users. In this complex and dynamic network ecosystem, an end-to-end performance analysis and optimization will be key features, in order to effectively manage the diverse requirements imposed by multiple vertical industries over the same shared infrastructure. To enable such a vision, the MARSAL targets the development and evaluation of a complete framework for the management and orchestration of network resources in 5G and beyond, by utilizing a converged optical-wireless network infrastructure in the access and fronthaul/midhaul segments. At the network design domain, MARSAL targets the development of novel cell-free based solutions that allows the significant scaling up of the wireless APs in a cost-effective manner by exploiting the application of the distributed cell-free concept and of the serial fronthaul approach, while contributing innovative functionalities to the O-RAN project. In parallel, in the fronthaul/midhaul segments MARSAL aims to radically increase the flexibility of optical access architectures for Beyond-5G Cell Site connectivity via different levels of fixed-mobile convergence. At the network and service management domain, the design philosophy of MARSAL is to provide a comprehensive framework for the management of the entire set of communication and computational network resources by exploiting novel ML-based algorithms of both edge and midhaul DCs, by incorporating the Virtual Elastic DataCenters/Infrastructures paradigm. Finally, at the network security domain, MARSAL aims to introduce mechanisms that provide privacy and security to application workload and data, targeting to allow applications and users to maintain control over their data when relying on the deployed shared infrastructures, while AI and and Blockchain technologies will be developed in order to guarantee a secured multi-tenant slicing environment.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network5G
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securitycryptography
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securitynetwork security
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- humanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophy
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
08006 Barcelona
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.