The i2CAT Foundation participates in the 6GDIFERENTE Cervera Network of Excellence to contribute to the development of new technologies and infrastructures that accelerate research into the new generation of 6G mobile networks. In this sense, the Catalan research centre, which has more than twenty years of experience in research and development activities in the field of new digital technologies, is leading the definition of an architecture that allows for the advancement of an experimental 6G infrastructure. This infrastructure is based on virtualisation mechanisms and orchestration of functionalities that follow the close-loop principle for autonomous management (zero-touch) through the integration of an artificial intelligence layer that supports new management features.
In addition, this new architecture integrates autonomous monitoring systems and new equipment representing the different domains of the new generation of 6G mobile networks. One example is the deployment of representative equipment for the emulation of non-terrestrial networks. These networks correspond to aircraft, drones and satellites that are interconnected in order to extend terrestrial coverage to remote areas.
Other equipment deployed includes quantum sensors for spectrum monitoring. Volumetric video capture equipment is also integrated for the deployment of broadcast services using extended reality. The architecture will be designed to support the extension of new equipment, offering the possibility to investigate future technologies such as the development of open radios (O-RAN).
Currently, the research staff has a first version of the architecture and is working on its deployment by interconnecting the different elements between the three centres leading 6GDIFERENTE: Vicomtech, Gradiant and i2CAT. The architecture is expected to be operational by the end of the project, scheduled for June 2025.
