Project 6GDIFFERENT, the new paradigm of efficient and intelligent mobile networks

6GDIFFERENT brings together the capabilities of three leading technology centres (Vicomtech, Gradiant and i2CAT) with extensive experience in 5G technologies and their evolution to 6G and is part of the Cervera Network of Excellence promoted by CDTI Innovation to accelerate the evolution of next generation 5G and future mobile communication networks

Thanks to the 6GDIFFERENT project, 6G networks will be more efficient and intelligent, will have lower energy consumption and will be able to be reconfigured to suit users and applications, as well as being enablers for relevant use cases such as virtual worlds, Industry 5.0 or more efficient mobility

On Monday 10th June, representatives from Vicomtech, Gradiant and i2CAT centres met in Donostia-San Sebastián at the premises of Vicomtech, coordinator of the Network, to hold the first meeting of the 6G DIFFERENT project, and to promote its development. Vicomtech, Gradiant and i2CAT, three leading technology centres with extensive experience in the development of 5G technologies and their evolution to 6G, are once again joining forces in a project that builds on a technological base already developed in the previous Open-VERSO Joint Network. 6GDIFFERENT, a project 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: 6G networks. It is based on a solid technological foundation established in a previous Open-VERSO project (2020 – 2023) funded, like 6GDIFFERENTE, by the CDTI in its Cervera programme of support for technology centres.

6G challenges and consortium

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 virtualised edge environments in mobility situations. Furthermore, under the auspices of the 6G network development timetable, promising new technologies are explored that are fundamental to 6G, especially those identified at the level of both European R&D support programmes for communications networks (6G-IA and SNS-JU), and by the scientific community in relation to the new functionalities expected from future 6G networks.

Vicomtech

Vicomtech is the main coordinator of 6GDIFFERENT, 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. “6GDifferent gives us a new opportunity to consolidate our position as a reference in communications network research and its application to different verticals. This project will not only evolve our infrastructure, but also strengthen the intersection with other emerging technologies such as extended reality or mobility applications. Research in these areas will allow us to increase and improve our offer for future industrial applications”, says Dr. Sergio Cabrero Barros, coordinator of 6GDiferente says Dr. Sergio Cabrero Barros, coordinator of 6GDiferente

i2CAT

i2CAT coordinates the definition of the 6GDIFFERENT 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 infrastructure management.

As Dr. Joan Adrià Ruiz de Azua, director of the Space Communications research area at i2CAT, points out, “this project will allow us to strengthen our positioning, at a national level, in two areas. Firstly, we will intensify collaboration with mobile communications operators, with whom i2CAT wants to collaborate in the design of services that make use of network APIs under the concept of Network as a Service (Naas), which will be researched as part of the project. Secondly, we will improve the validation services offered to SMEs and startups by developing new advanced 5G and 6G connectivity capabilities.

Gradiant

Gradiant leads the development of wireless and emerging technologies in 6G networks and synchronises the implementation of use cases to validate the 6GDIFFERENT infrastructure and the technologies developed by the 3 centres. In particular, we will focus on enhancing our 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.

“Through 6GDIFFERENTE, Gradiant hopes to further consolidate its position as a benchmark in the evolution of 5G and 6G technologies. This way, we help to meet specific objectives that have been set for these mobile networks, such as better coverage, lower energy consumption or increased security for the most critical use cases such as autonomous vehicle connectivity. We will also continue to be useful for the business network when creating new tools, infrastructure and services associated with this sector”, explains Luis Pérez Roca, director of the Advanced Communications area in Gradiant.

6G: more efficient and smarter

Thanks to the 6GDIFFERENT project, 6G networks will not only perform better than today’s networks, but will also be more efficient and smarter networks. They will have lower power consumption and can be reconfigured to suit users and applications, anticipating their needs. These technologies will be enablers for relevant use cases such as virtual worlds, Industry 5.0 or more efficient mobility. The new 6GDIFFERENT project enables the development of cutting-edge technologies that will play an important role in the future of communications networks and transform the production and industrial processes of the future. 6GDIFFERENTE is one of the most pioneering and innovative projects that, thanks to the most disruptive and promising technologies in the field of telecommunications, represents a breakthrough and greater competitiveness for the industrial fabric with new tools, infrastructure and services.