6GDIFERENTE

Aim of the project:

Vicomtech, Gradiant and i2CAT, three leading technology centres with wide experience in the development of 5G technologies and their evolution to 6G join forces again in a project that starts from a technological base already developed in the previous Open-VERSO Joint Network. 6GDIFERENTE, a project framed within the Cervera Network promoted by the CDTI Innovation, arises from the motivation of the three technology centres to strengthen their position as leading centres in the research and development of the communications networks of the future: the 6G networks.

Challenges:

The project addresses two of the major challenges of advanced 6G mobile communications: the establishment of over-the-air device communications; and the continuity and quality of services in Edge virtualised environments in mobility situations.

In addition, under the auspices of the 6G network development timeline, promising new and fundamental technologies for 6G will be explored, especially those identified at the level of both European communication network R&D support programmes (6G-IA and SNS-JU), and by the scientific community in relation to the new functionalities expected from future 6G networks.

Participating partners:

Vicomtech is the main coordinator of 6GDIFERENTE, which develops the centre's own 5G infrastructure, thus building the foundations for a new generation of mobile telephony. It also incorporates millimetre wave interfaces into the centre's infrastructure, explores the potential of quantum computing in network management, and investigates immersive data visualisation systems integrated with the network.

i2CAT coordinates the definition of the 6GDIFERENTE architecture and the development of the entire environment for its management. The participation of the Catalan research centre focuses on the development of technologies and their integration in the resulting infrastructure with respect to non-terrestrial networks, holographic communication from extended reality (XR), reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), low-power devices in the Internet of Things (IoT), integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the environment of open access radio networks (O-RAN) and the development of virtualisation and monitoring tools for the management of the infrastructure.

Gradiant leads the development of wireless and emerging technologies in 6G networks and synchronises the implementation of use cases to validate the 6GDIFERENTE infrastructure and technologies developed by the 3 centres. In particular, it focuses on enhancing its competencies in mobile networks through research in technologies based on signal processing, security and satellite network integration. Gradiant will introduce disruptive solutions based on quantum technologies and photonic technologies for application in mobile networks.

Funding:

6GDIFERENTE builds on a solid technological base established in a previous Open-VERSO project (2020 - 2023) funded, like 6GDIFERENTE, by the CDTI in its Cervera programme of support for technology centres.