Development of 5G CHAMPION testbeds for 5G services at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games

Abstract This paper describes the first available 5G testbeds as designed by 5G CHAMPION, a collaborative research project undertaken by over twenty consortium members and targeting the provision of 5G services at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea. In order to provide 5G services such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), high quality, interactive multi-player video games, the testbeds shall fulfill the challenging requirements such as ultra-high data rates, ultra-reliable low latency, and mass connectivity. To meet such requirements, revolutionary testbed architectures are proposed, designed to be flexible, cost- and energy-efficient, through adopting state-of-art multi-radio access technologies (RAT) in client devices and in the network. The testbeds will also provide mmWave wireless backhaul, an interoperable and seamless connection between two different access networks located in Europe and on the site of the Korean Winter Olympic Games

5GCHAMPION – disruptive 5G technologies for roll‐out in 2018

Abstract The 5GCHAMPION Europe–Korea collaborative project provides the first fully‐integrated and operational 5G prototype in 2018, in conjunction with the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. The corresponding technological advances comprise both an evolution and optimization of existing technological solutions and disruptive new features, which substantially outpace previous generations of technology. In this article, we focus on a subset of three disruptive technological solutions developed and experimented on by 5GCHAMPION during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games: high speed communications, direct satellite‐user equipment communications, and post‐sale evolution of wireless equipment through software reconfiguration. Evaluating effectiveness and performing trials for these key 5G features permit us to learn about the actual maturity of 5G technology prototyping and the potential of new 5G services for vertical markets and end user enhanced experience two years before the launch of large‐scale 5G services

Hexa-X:the European 6G flagship project

Abstract Hexa-X will pave the way to the next generation of wireless networks (Hexa) by explorative research (X). The Hexa-X vision is to connect human, physical, and digital worlds with a fabric of sixth generation (6G) key enablers. The vision is driven by the ambition to contribute to objectives of growth, global sustainability, trustworthiness, and digital inclusion. Key 6G value indicators and use cases are defined against the background of technology push, society and industry pull as well as objectives of technology sovereignty. Key areas of research have been formulated accordingly to include connecting intelligence, network of networks, sustainability, global service coverage, extreme experience, and trustworthiness. Critical technology enablers for 6G are developed in the project including, sub-THz transceiver technologies, accurate stand-alone positioning and radio-based imaging, improved radio performance, artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) inspired radio access network (RAN) technologies, future network architectures and special purpose solutions including future ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) schemes. Besides technology enablers, early trials will be carried out to help assess viability and performance aspects of the key technology enablers. The 6G Hexa-X project is integral part of European and global research effort to help define the best possible next generation of networks

6G vision, value, use cases and technologies from European 6G Flagship project Hexa-X

Abstract While 5G is being deployed and the economy and society begin to reap the associated benefits, the research and development community starts to focus on the next, 6 th Generation (6G) of wireless communications. Although there are papers available in the literature on visions, requirements and technical enablers for 6G from various academic perspectives, there is a lack of joint industry and academic work towards 6G. In this paper a consolidated view on vision, values, use cases and key enabling technologies from leading industry stakeholders and academia is presented. The authors represent the mobile communications ecosystem with competences spanning hardware, link layer and networking aspects, as well as standardization and regulation. The second contribution of the paper is revisiting and analyzing the key concurrent initiatives on 6G. A third contribution of the paper is the identification and justification of six key 6G research challenges: (i) “connecting”, in the sense of empowering, exploiting and governing, intelligence; (ii) realizing a network of networks, i.e., leveraging on existing networks and investments, while reinventing roles and protocols where needed; (iii) delivering extreme experiences, when/where needed; (iv) (environmental, economic, social) sustainability to address the major challenges of current societies; (v) trustworthiness as an ingrained fundamental design principle; (vi) supporting cost-effective global service coverage. A fourth contribution is a comprehensive specification of a concrete first-set of industry and academia jointly defined use cases for 6G, e.g., massive twinning, cooperative robots, immersive telepresence, and others. Finally, the anticipated evolutions in the radio, network and management/orchestration domains are discussed

5G champion:rolling out 5G in 2018

Abstract The 5G CHAMPION Consortium will provide the first fully integrated and operational 5G prototype in 2018 — this effort is a major leap ahead compared to existing punctual technology trials, such as, e.g., Proof-of-Concept platforms focusing on mmWave communication in specific bands, etc. This paper describes the overall set-up including a synergetic combination of technologies such as beamforming based mmWave & Satellite service provisioning, virtualized infrastructure, software reconfiguration across the entire stack, accurate positioning and high-speed solutions. The key enablers are described in detail and related efforts in standards and regulation organizations are discussed

The Hexa-X project vision on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-driven communication and computation co-design for 6G

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the most recent advancements and outcomes of the European 6G flagship project Hexa-X, on the topic of in-network Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). We first present a general introduction to the project and its ambitions in terms of use cases (UCs), key performance indicators (KPIs), and key value indicators (KVIs). Then, we identify the key challenges to realize, implement, and enable the native integration of AI and ML in 6G, both as a means for designing flexible, low-complexity, and reconfigurable networks ( learning to communicate ), and as an intrinsic in-network intelligence feature ( communicating to learn or, 6G as an efficient AI/ML platform). We present a high level description of down selected technical enablers and their implications on the Hexa-X identified UCs, KPIs and KVIs. Our solutions cover lower layer aspects, including channel estimation, transceiver design, power amplifier and distributed MIMO related challenges, and higher layer aspects, including AI/ML workload management and orchestration, as well as distributed AI. The latter entails Federated Learning and explainability as means for privacy preserving and trustworthy AI. To bridge the gap between the technical enablers and the 6G targets, some representative numerical results accompany the high level description. Overall, the methodology of the paper starts from the UCs and KPIs/KVIs, to then focus on the proposed technical solutions able to realize them. Finally, a brief discussion of the ongoing regulation activities related to AI is presented, to close our vision towards an AI and ML-driven communication and computation co-design for 6G