The Hexa-X-II project has released deliverable D2.5, presenting a comprehensive end-to-end (E2E) 6G system architecture that builds upon the foundation laid by deliverables D2.2 and D2.3. This deliverable outlines key findings for designing future 6G systems, prioritizing economic, environmental and social sustainability.
D2.5 examines 6G system requirements and emphasizes ten key system design principles. These principles prioritize network simplification compared to previous generations, minimizing environmental footprint and enabling sustainable networks, and persistent security and privacy.
The deliverable further elaborates on a methodology for classifying and filtering technical enablers to align with the key requirements, design principles, and sustainability ambitions. This methodology is exemplified through a detailed analysis of a collaborative robots (cobots) use case, incorporating valuable insights from Proof of Concepts and complementary enablers from other SNS-JU projects.
Additionally, D2.5 explores in depth some key enablers, including radio interfaces and protocols, intent-based service management, and robust security, privacy, and resilience framework.
More importantly, a central part of the D2.5 is to provide a high-level view of the 6G system architecture, integrating selected enablers into a cohesive framework. In addition, specific system views highlight key differentiators of a 6G system, including:
- Radio Interfaces and Protocols: this view focuses on innovations in 6G radio protocols and evolution of existing radio protocols to incorporate 6G capabilities like JCAS, NTN and AI/ML.
- New 6G services: this view explores Sensing, Compute, and AI as a Service, and their exposure across the ecosystem.
- Multi-Stakeholder collaboration: this view emphasizes seamless collaboration facilitations between various stakeholders.
- Pervasive functionalities: these views address massive use of AI/ML in-network and robust security, privacy and resilience controls integrated across network layers, prioritizing trustworthiness and mitigating threats to system performance.
Finally, D2.5 outlines the design of the E2E system-level validation phase, with final results to be presented in the last deliverable D2.6, scheduled for release early July 2025. It also includes an experimental-based assessment design to validate the architecture’s robustness and readiness for future real-world deployment.
To learn more, please read the full deliverable and check out the accompanying presentation.