European Enabling technologies for Beyond 5G/6G RAN disaggregated architectures (RIA) -

Expected Outcome

Proposals are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Availability of European capabilities for enabling hardware, computing, signal processing technologies for beyond 5G (B5G) and future 6G infrastructures in the context of disaggregated, virtualized networks, for both small cell networks and cloud-based macro RANs.
• Availability of European capabilities for B5G/6G computing based on new computing architectures for Base station including accelerators (e.g. FPGA’s) capable of supporting even the most demanding 5G/6G processes in cloud servers and white box base stations or routers.

Scope

• B5G and 6G Base station computing and processing capabilities enabling the most demanding high performance, real time Radio Access Network (RAN) functions such as dynamic spectrum sharing in the context of disaggregated RAN architectures. It includes acceleration capabilities for real time virtualisation engines.
• Future RAN computing architectures and technology implementable in cloud or distributed computing platforms whilst addressing the current Open RAN limitation, notably energy efficiency and security. It supports 5G spectrum implementation above C band and future 6G spectrum capabilities as well as massive MIMO implementations. ASIC implementation benchmark may be taken as a target for performance validations.
• Open computing platform supporting future RAN disaggregation and virtualization and enabling an open multivendor architecture, on which large numbers of European equipment vendors may innovate. Openness also enables intelligent RAN real time management, notably through Machine Learning processes enabling key performance optimisation, in particular spectrum sharing.

The proposal should include a clear European strategy for the emergence of a European capability in this communication-computing domain where Europe is today not at the forefront. The strategy is expected to leverage new opportunities offered by the trend towards network disaggregation and cloud implementation of functions. It offers a clear path towards exploitation and industrial commitment.

For this activity, a clear complementarity strategy with relevant actions like Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking, Smart Networks Services Joint Undertaking, the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on micro electronics and communication is sought.

It is considered that participation of key European industrial players and RTO’s from the communication domain, the micro electronic domain, as well as key SME’s in these domains are needed.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Activities are expected to start at TRL 2-3 and achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

Digital AgendaArtificial IntelligenceInternational Cooperation

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