SNS JU July 2025 Newsflash

Successful discussions around Trust, transparency, AI, and societal implications by SNS projects @ 6G Platform Berlin conference

The 6G Platform Berlin Conference took place on 1-3 July 2025 at the Berlin Congress Center, gathering experts from industry, academia, and public institutions to address key topics related to the development of 6G networks. Discussions focused on trust, transparency, the role of AI, and the societal implications of next-generation connectivity.

Two SNS projects, 6G4Society and iTrust6G, took part in the programme.

Flavia Maragno spoke on behalf of 6G4Society during the session “Let’s Talk 6G: Trust, Transparency, and Science Communication.” The presentation explored public engagement strategies around 6G, supported by insights from workshops and a survey involving over 650 participants. Key themes included the societal, health, and environmental dimensions of 6G and the need to move from promoting acceptance to enabling democratic participation.

On 3 July, Mir Ghoraishi represented iTrust6G in the session “Trustworthiness of and by AI/ML for 6G.” His intervention focused on the project’s work to ensure the reliability, transparency, and security of AI technologies embedded in future network infrastructures.

Call for Papers: Special Issue on Sustainable Wireless Communication

The MDPI Open Access Journal Telecom is inviting paper proposals for a special issue titled “Sustainable Wireless Communication: Green Technologies and Energy-Efficient Networks,” with special issue guest editors EXIGENCE partners: Adamantia Stamou (AUEB), Artur Hecker (HWDU), Marvin Sanchez (DTC) and Luis Contreras (Telefonica).

This special issue aims to gather research focused on reducing the energy consumption and carbon footprint of wireless communication. This includes measuring and modeling energy use, developing algorithms to allocate energy and carbon efficiently across various ICT services (like video platforms, AI chatbots, and augmented reality), and re-engineering hardware, algorithms, protocols, and system architectures to prioritise sustainability. The goal is also to explore incentive mechanisms to encourage sustainable practices among ICT providers and end-users, ultimately shaping the green 6G era.

Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts by 30 April 2026, and can find the relevant topics, at the following link: MDPI Telecom Special Issue

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• 6G
• Wireless networks
• Energy efficiency
• Carbon efficiency
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Machine Learning (ML)
• Incentive Mechanisms

Deep learning, AI and blockchain inputs from SNS projects @ IEEE NetSoft

The IEEE NetSoft 2025 conference took place from 23 to 27 June in Budapest, bringing together experts in softwarized networks, AI, and cybersecurity for next-generation communications.

The 6G-SANDBOX project was represented by Mohammad Farhoudi (University of Oulu), who presented a paper on a deep reinforcement learning-based orchestration framework for integrated aerial-terrestrial networks. The approach supports dynamic service composition using UAVs as aerial base stations, aligning with the project’s goal of validating AI-native orchestration across heterogeneous infrastructures.

The HORSE project was represented by Michael Danousis (Eight Bells Ltd), who presented a paper on the use of generative AI to structure and enhance cybersecurity knowledge. The work, in collaboration with Martel Innovate, aims to improve security practices in 6G environments.

UNITY-6G partners actively contributed to the event with a presentation by Coordinator Engin Zeydan on integrating data engineering and blockchain for secure, decentralized B5G/6G networks. The project also showcased a collaborative demo illustrating full orchestration of a distributed 5G cloud-native mobile network, including O-RAN, 5G Core, and transport layers. This demonstration highlighted UNITY-6G’s focus on openness, programmability, and AI-driven automation to enable flexible, multi-domain network management and end-to-end service continuity.

NAIFNET workshop

As part of IEEE NetSoft 2025, the First Workshop on Native AI in Future Networks Including 6G (NAIFNET) was held on 23 June 2025 in Budapest. The 6G-Cloud project actively contributed to the event, presenting three technical sessions: “Rethinking AI-Powered Service Orchestration: The Case for Decentralisation”, “AI-driven Self-Healing in Cloud-native 6G Networks through Dynamic Server Scaling”, and “MLOps as a Service for AI-Native 6G Networks”. These contributions addressed key challenges in building scalable, decentralised, and resilient AI-native network infrastructures. In addition, consortium members Slawomir Kukliński (Warsaw University of Technology) and Antonio Skarmeta (Universidad de Murcia) served as Symposium Co-Chairs, underscoring the project’s role in shaping the AI-native networking research agenda. The workshop, supported by several SNS JU projects, provided a platform for advancing collaboration in the development of intelligent next-generation networks.

Deterministic networking and energy measurement exchange sessions organised by SNS projects @ IETF 123 Hackathon

The IETF 123 Hackathon took place on 19–20 July 2025 in Madrid, bringing together developers and researchers to collaborate on advancing Internet standards. Hosted by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the event focused on practical implementation and testing of emerging networking technologies.

Two projects funded under the SNS JU, DESIRE-6G and EXIGENCE, actively contributed to the hackathon.

The DESIRE-6G team, led by Telefónica Innovación Digital and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, organised a challenge focused on deterministic networking. The objective was to design a Wireshark dissector for In-Band Telemetry (INT) headers, supporting real-time monitoring of Packet Replication, Elimination, and Ordering Functions (PREOF) in deterministic networks. This effort aimed to enhance performance observability in time-critical 5G and future 6G environments.

The EXIGENCE project team, including partners from TNO, Telefónica, and Huawei, contributed to the “GREEN framework and use cases” session. Their work focused on standardizing inter-domain energy measurement exchange. The team demonstrated an experiment on end-to-end monitoring of energy consumption during video streaming over a mobile device, aiming to integrate energy metrics into service delivery processes.

OpenInfra Edge Computing WG White Paper

A new white paper titled “Next Generation Edge: Edge Computing Architectures for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Use Cases” was released by the OpenInfra Edge Computing Working Group. The publication provides an in-depth analysis of architectural strategies to support AI and machine learning at the edge, addressing key challenges such as latency, security, scalability, and data sovereignty.

The white paper was developed through broad collaboration and included contributions from the SNS JU projects ELASTIC and CONFIDENTIAL6G.

CONFIDENTIAL6G contributed its expertise in secure and scalable edge infrastructures, particularly focusing on deploying AI closer to the data source to improve responsiveness and trustworthiness. The project’s input helped address security and data protection concerns relevant to edge AI implementations.

ELASTIC supported the work by sharing insights from its research on resilient and efficient edge computing frameworks. These contributions reflected ELASTIC’s mission to enable high-performance, AI-driven services through advanced, distributed network architectures.

Access the White Paper

Testbeds presentations, open-source simulator and decentralised telemetry discussions by SNS projects @ ICTON 2025

The 25th edition of the International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON) took place in Barcelona from 6 to 10 July 2025, hosted by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). The event gathered researchers from across the globe to discuss advances in optical and network technologies, with notable contributions from several SNS JU projects.

The 6G-EWOC project presented five papers. Key topics included the project’s testbed and digital twin for 5G networks, RaDAR-to-RaDAR communication, heterogeneous photonic integration, quasi-coherent reception for metro and access networks, and beamforming-assisted free-space optical links.

ECO-eNET contributed with a talk on the “Optical Networking Gym,” an open-source simulator designed to support machine learning research in optical networking, aiming to bridge AI and network experimentation.

DESIRE6G shared two contributions. One focused on multi-agent systems for reducing operational expenditures in dynamic traffic management. The other showcased a responsible internet proof-of-concept featuring user-driven path control and reinforcement learning-based routing deployed on the FABRIC testbed.

NATWORK presented research on decentralized telemetry, emphasizing secure and programmable data path monitoring, developed in collaboration with CNIT and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna.

SNS projects contribution at summer school on optical communication 2025

The Summer School on Optical Communication 2025 took place from 16 to 18 July 2025 in a fully virtual format, offering global access to advanced training in photonic technologies. The event gathered students, early-career researchers, and industry experts to explore cutting-edge developments in photonic integration, quantum communication, artificial intelligence, and sustainable ICT.

Organised with the participation of leading institutions such as Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), Nokia Bell Labs, and University College London (UCL), the programme included three days of live expert sessions. Keynote speakers included Chuck Mattera, former CEO of Coherent Corp., who shared insights from over four decades in the photonics sector.

The event also served as a platform to showcase the involvement of several SNS JU projects. Notably, PROTEUS-6G, FLEX-SCALE, and SEASON were among the initiatives supporting the event. Their presence highlighted the role of next-generation optical and quantum communication systems within the broader context of 6G research.

Video for third joint webinar available

On 27 June 2025, the third joint webinar in a series on sustainable wireless design was held, bringing together the Horizon Europe and SNS JU projects 6G-SHINE, SUPERIOT, and TERRAMETA. The session continued the collaborative efforts initiated in previous editions, focusing on technical innovations aimed at enhancing the sustainability of future wireless networks.

The agenda featured expert presentations on a range of research topics, including attention-based channel prediction, high-performance terahertz (THz) reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) communications, and solution-processed materials for next-generation wireless systems. Presentations were delivered by Saeed Hakimi, Sean Ahearne, and Emanuel Abreu Antunes Carlos.

This third edition further strengthened dialogue among the participating projects and offered a platform for exchanging progress and approaches in the field of sustainable 6G technologies.

The recording of the webinar is available for viewing here

Confluent network, distributed control of 6G Networks services, and dynamic spectrum allocation demonstrated by SNS Projects @ OECC/PSC conference

The OECC/PSC 2025 conference, held from 29 June to 3 July in Seoul, gathered global experts in photonics and communications to discuss advances in optical network technologies.

The ECO-eNET project contributed through workshops, tutorials, and invited talks showcasing its vision for integrated optical and radio transport systems. Dan Kilper (CONNECT Centre) presented the concept of the confluent network, aimed at unifying optical and radio layers for seamless end-to-end connectivity.
Marco Ruffini (Trinity College Dublin) led a tutorial on Optical Spectrum as a Service, highlighting ECO-eNET’s work on dynamic and flexible spectrum allocation.
Paolo Monti (Chalmers University of Technology) gave an invited talk on combining AI with confluent networks to enable efficient, resilient 6G infrastructures.

The DESIRE6G project also participated in the event. Luis Velasco (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) attended the associated International Conference on Photonics in Switching and Computing (PSC 2025) in Sapporo and presented the paper “Intelligent Reconfiguration of Distributed Control of 6G Network Services”. The work proposes a distributed control system that uses mobility prediction, knowledge sharing, and pre-training to dynamically reconfigure resources, ensuring service performance in mobile scenarios.

Experiences shared by SNS Projects on industrial, automotive and healthcare @ WFCS 2025

On 10-13 June was held, the 2025 edition of the IEEE International Workshop on Factory Communication Systems (WFCS) featured an Industry Forum organized by the DETERMINISTIC6G and PREDICT-6G projects, both funded under the SNS JU. The session convened experts from leading industrial and automotive companies to examine current trends and challenges in communication technologies for cyber-physical systems.

The forum included contributions from:

• Joao Lopes (NXP Semiconductors), who discussed the role of Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) as a cross-vertical standard. He underlined TSN’s ability to unify diverse sectors such as automotive and healthcare, while pointing out the risks of transitioning from legacy systems and the need for layered, standardized architectures.
• Michael Bahr (Siemens), who reviewed the state of deterministic wireless technologies like Wi-Fi and 5G. He identified 6G as a potential enabler of end-to-end ultra-reliable low-latency communications, a key requirement for Industry 4.0 use cases.
• Filippo Dell’Agnello (IUVO Srl), who presented deployment experiences of industrial exoskeletons. He emphasized the need for deterministic connectivity, embedded offload control, and edge computing, particularly in the context of DETERMINISTIC6G research activities.
• Kirsten Matheus (BMW Group), who highlighted the complexity of in-vehicle communication systems and advocated for standardized solutions across the ISO OSI model. She emphasized the relevance of technologies such as 10BASE-T1S and TSN for future automotive networks.

A panel discussion, moderated by Hans-Peter Bernhard (Silicon Austria Labs, JKU Linz) and Valerio Frascolla (Intel Corporation), explored communication requirements across industrial and automotive domains. Interoperability, determinism, and open standards emerged as common priorities for enabling real-time, scalable, and sustainable systems.

The session concluded with an open discussion, reinforcing the importance of collaborative research and standards-based innovation in advancing industrial communication technologies.

6G-MUSICAL was also actively represented through the participation of IMEC which delivered tutorials highlighting the capabilities of openwifi, including its advanced sensing features. These tutorials demonstrated how openwifi supports wireless Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) essential for industrial automation environments requiring precise timing and reliability.

Ethical and societal implications of 6G raised by 6G4Society and SUSTAIN-6G Workshop at Roma TRE

On July 4 and 6, 2025, the projects 6G4Society and SUSTAIN-6G took part in a workshop at Roma TRE University, hosted by CyberSocial Lab and involving students from the Master’s Program in Sociology. The sessions, led by Emanuela Tangari and Luigi Briguglio, focused on the ethical and societal implications of 6G technologies.

Through interactive surveys and open discussions, participants examined key issues such as privacy, trust, access, and digital inequalities. The exchanges emphasized the importance of asking not only what 6G will do, but what it should do, and for whom. Core values such as transparency, human dignity, and ethical governance were identified as essential principles.

The event illustrated both projects’ commitment to bridging technological research with social reflection and civic engagement, contributing to a more inclusive and value-driven approach to future communication systems.

Deepening participants understanding on Pervasise AI for Next -G networks by SNS Projects @ ARTIST Seasonal school

The ARTIST Seasonal School, titled “Pervasive ARTIficial Intelligence for Next-G Softwarized neTworks,” was held with the objective of deepening participants’ understanding of next-generation 6G network architecture and design approaches.

During the program, research teams from CNIT (Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni) and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna presented ongoing work carried out within the DESIRE6G, NATWORK, and FIDAL projects, funded under various open calls. The sessions highlighted cutting-edge research activities exploring AI integration, software-defined networking, and advanced programmability for future network systems.

The event also featured hands-on and laboratory sessions focused on practical topics such as P4 data plane programmability for 6G, in-band telemetry, and the application of artificial intelligence in network management. These activities provided attendees with direct experience of the tools and techniques shaping the development of future 6G infrastructures.

The SNS CO-OP project envisions a strong participation @ Techritory

The Techritory Forum will take place in Riga, Latvia, from 22-23 October 2025, convening more than 600 participants including policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and technology experts. Under the theme “Connected Futures through Digital Paths”, the event will explore critical issues in digitalization and connectivity, including quantum technologies, 6G R&D, private networks, data infrastructure security, and non-terrestrial network solutions. The forum is recognized as a leading platform for fostering cross-sector collaboration and shaping the evolution of digital ecosystems.

The SNS CO-OP project will actively contribute to this year’s programme through several dedicated sessions and panels focused on advancing Europe’s leadership in next-generation connectivity and digital infrastructure. Coordination is led by Jose Almodovar, with contributions structured around key strategic areas supported by the SNS JU.

The SNS CO-OP participation will include:

• European Leadership in Key Digital sectors: Driving FP10 to success
  • Panel with discussions on digital sectors with 8 participants
  • Kostas Trichias
• Strengthening the Research-to-Standards Pipeline: Insights from WiTaR and Pre-Standardization Working groups of SNS JU
  • Co-creation event with 5 speakers
  • Pooja Mohnani, Veronica Vuotto
• Cloud panel
  • Panel focus on the topic of Cloud and the landscape of the cloud ecosystem in Europe
  • Prachi Sachdeva
• Joint Communications and Sensing in SNS Trials and Pilots: pathway to monetization of 6G networks
  • Co-creation event with presentations by experts from SNS projects
  • Carles Anton-Haro, Raffaele De Peppe

Call for Papers Open for 6GARROW Workshop at IEEE Globecom 2025

The 6GARROW project, in collaboration with 6G-DISAC and 6G-GOALS, announced the call for papers for its upcoming workshop titled “AI-Native Communication Systems Towards Intelligent, Interoperable, and High-Efficiency Communications (IIHECs)” at IEEE Globecom 2025, to be held between 8-12 December 2025.

The workshop aims to bring together researchers and industry experts to explore AI-driven wireless communication systems, focusing on emerging technologies shaping next-generation networks. Topics of interest include AI-native network architecture, intelligent edge computing, autonomous network management, and machine learning for radio resource optimization.

The scope covers both the technical integration of AI/ML in wireless systems and the regulatory frameworks affecting their design and deployment, considering international regulations such as the US Executive Order on AI and the European Artificial Intelligence Act.

Submissions are invited on areas including architectural solutions for AI/ML at central and edge processing, AI/ML for 6G cellular and RLAN, cross-layer orchestration, semantic communications, federated learning, energy efficiency, and compliance with government regulations.

The deadline and submission details are available on the official workshop page. Researchers and innovators are encouraged to contribute to defining the future of AI-enabled wireless networks.

Call for Papers: IEEE Communications Standards Magazine Special Issue on Future Mobile Core

Guest editors for the special issue included Rui Luis Aguiar (Instituto de Telecomunicações), Periklis Chatzimisios (International Hellenic University), Namseok Ko (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), Xu (Tony) Xia (China Telecom Research Institute), and Huanzhuo Wu (Nokia).

More information is available here.

The IEEE Communications Standards Magazine announced a call for papers for a special issue dedicated to the future of the mobile core network. The issue aims to address the evolving architecture, features, and standardization challenges of mobile core networks, particularly in the context of 6G development.

While extensive research has focused on radio access network evolution, less attention has been given to the vision and design of future mobile core networks. This special issue seeks contributions exploring theoretical and practical aspects, including architecture evolution, virtualization technologies, business and technical requirements, security, interoperability, and deployment experiences.

Manuscripts were invited to conform to standard IEEE formats and to be submitted via Manuscript Central under the “Wireless and Radio Communications” topic. The submission deadline was set for 31 July 2025, with author revisions notified by 1 October 2025 and final decisions by 1 December 2025. The publication was scheduled for March 2026.

SCoDIHNet news

1/ The European Enterprise Network (EEN) Digital group has the following action plan together with SCoDIHNet

• Collaboration with third countries (South Korea; India is a new member)
• Cooperation EIT Digital, TEF, EIC, EDIH..
• Cooperation IDEAL IST
• Promotion of OpenGPT-X

2/ EEN and SCoDIHnet are following these events:

• International B2B Software Days 2025
• GITEX 2025
• AI ABEL 2025

3/ EEN is looking after an organisation which is member of SCoDIHNet and EEN in order to accelerate the cooperation between the 2 initiatives.

4/ Cooperation with the Smart Connectivity Thematic Working Group is still active, SCoDIHNet is invited to make a new presentation at the next meeting planned on 10 September 2025.