The Hexa-X-II project has released deliverable D2.6, marking a major milestone with the final evaluation of the Hexa-X-II end-to-end 6G system design. Building upon the foundational concepts, enablers, and intermediate validations established in previous deliverables (D2.1–D2.5), this deliverable presents comprehensive validation results from the system and component Proof-of-Concepts.
Key validated 6G innovations include:
- Advanced radio and device innovations: AI-native air interfaces, flexible 6G radio protocols, energy-harvesting and zero-energy IoT devices.
- AI-native management and orchestration: Cognitive closed-loop automation, intent-driven service orchestration, multi-agent reinforcement learning for multi-cluster orchestration.
- Beyond communication services: Joint communication and sensing (JCAS) capabilities, Sensing- and Compute-as-a-Service, compute offloading (e.g. XR rendering via remote servers).
- Trustworthy Flexible Topologies: Trust-aware flexible topology formulations and resource allocation.
- Validation of a real-time Application Enablement Platform exposing 6G capabilities (e.g., device context, link quality, and compute status) to verticals through CAMARA-compliant APIs.
System validation confirms that Hexa-X-II’s architecture meets critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as latency, energy efficiency, reliability, and system responsiveness, while also aligning with Key Value Indicators (KVIs) related to sustainability including trustworthiness and inclusion.
The evaluation highlights the interplay between networks beyond communications capabilities and real-time applications. By exposing compute, sensing, and network data across different layers, the system facilitates distributed intelligence and cross-layer optimization, leading to more resilient and efficient service delivery. This is demonstrated through successful collaborative robot use cases (warehouse inventory management and surveillance), showcasing how the Hexa-X-II design drives innovation in various industries.
The validation offers a clear pathway for industrial innovation and digital transformation. The results reflect a shift from concept to real-world deployment potential, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to a globally harmonized, sustainable, and intelligent 6G ecosystem.
To explore the final 6G system evaluation and its impact on the future of communication networks, read the full Deliverable D2.6 and check out the accompanying presentation.