This page contains reports and publications prepared by SNS projects collectively through either the Steering Board, the Technology Board or the SNS Working groups. Please click on the paper title to download the full paper as a PDF file.
SNS Publications 2025:
Trials and Pilots Brochure No.1 (June 2025)
This first SNS T&Ps Brochure includes 8 selected T&Ps from SNS JU funded projects. Each contributing project prepared a two-page flyer (as detailed in Section 2), presenting an overview of its T&P, including network architecture, deployment details, key results obtained and innovative features enabled by 5G, 5G Advanced and emerging 6G technologies.
These flyers emphasise the benefits and value brought by 5G Advanced and 6G networks, technologies and enablers, that previous generations of mobile networks cannot provide (i.e., their 5G, 5G Advanced and 6G empowerment).
Importantly, the featured T&Ps illustrate strong social relevance, economic potential, or the validation of ground breaking services and applications, demonstrating how 5G, 5G-Advanced and 6G are driving innovation and impact.
Towards 6G Architecture: Key Concepts, Challenges, and Building Blocks (May 2025):
This white paper has been prepared by the 6G Architecture working group of the Smart Network and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). It presents a comprehensive snapshot of the current architectural considerations explored by the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS-JU) projects. It discusses the rationale for novel architectural components, the ongoing design efforts, and the future outlook for 6G. It analyses the blueprint for next-generation mobile networks, building on past experiences while integrating cutting-edge advancements. The structure follows the IMT-2030 framework, categorizing insights into the key usage scenarios and overarching architectural aspects.
This white paper (WP) presents a comprehensive analysis of how 27 projects funded by the SNS JU address sustainability in their work on next-generation (6G) communication technologies. The analysis draws on detailed questionnaire responses and follow-up interviews, spanning four core themes: (i) sustainability targets, (ii) methodologies, (iii) trade-offs, and (iv) implementation considerations.
6G KVIS – SNS PROJECTS INITIAL SURVEY RESULTS 2025 (May 2025)
The Test, Measurement, and Validation (TMV) Working Group (WG) of SNS JU focuses on developing and sharing related experiences and best practices for 6G networks testing, monitoring, and assessment from various perspectives. More specifically, besides its strong focus on 6G networks’ technical performance, the TMV-WG, through the KVIs sub-working group, aims to set the scene for 6G networks’ impact monitoring and validation from the emerging dimension of Key Value Indicators (KVIs). Within this context, the TMV WG aims to record, report, and promote state-of-the-art and new innovative methodologies for the monitoring and evaluation of the foreseen impact of the 6G networks on Key Values, as identified by SNS-JU projects.
This work leverages the methodology and previous work of 6G-IA on the definition of values and KVIs – which still progresses in the context of 6G-IA SNVC (Societal Needs and Value Creation Sub-Group) – addressing the dimension of evaluation of KVIs. To this end, various SNS JU projects provided the KVIs and information on how these can or will be evaluated in accordance with the use cases that are addressed. To align with the SNVC methodology, the main reported KVIs were classified into categories based on the impacted Key Values (KVs).
The identified categories of KVs are: KV #1 – Environmental Sustainability, KV #2 – Societal Sustainability, KV #3 – Economic Sustainability & Innovation, KV #4 – Democracy, KV #5 – Cultural Connection, KV #6 – Knowledge, KV #7 – Privacy & Confidentiality, KV #8 – Simplified Life, KV#9 – Digital Inclusion, KV#10 – Personal Freedom, KV#11 – Personal Health & Protection from Harm and KV #12 – Trust. This categorisation utilised within the present whitepaper does not represent or stand for a final proposal of classification of the Key Values, rather, it is utilised as a point of reference for many of the research projects that participated in the questionnaires.
We welcome any feedback until the 31st March 2025 via an email to 6GArch-consultation (at) sns-ju.eu
The Test, Measurement, and KPIs Validation (TMV) Working Group (WG) of SNS JU focuses on developing and sharing best practices for 6G testing, monitoring, and analytics. The TMV WG aims to promote common methodologies across projects, support 6G trial Use Cases (UCs), and ensure a unified European vision for the 6G network lifecycle. A key objective is the definition and validation of performance KPIs. This white paper consolidates 6G KPIs from SNS JU projects, providing definitions, target values, and context to shape the 6G vision. Furthermore, the TMV WG promotes common collection procedures, validation methodologies, and analysis of KPI metrics. Various SNS JU projects provided the KPIs, which drive their technical developments.
This white paper is produced by the SNS JU Technology Board (TB), which is the main collaborative body of SNS JU technical experts, and aims to introduce the work taking place within the SNS JU projects, relevant to AI/ML. An overview of the projects is provided while details and statistics about the AI/ML based solutions developed within the SNS JU are also presented including the goal of the AI mechanisms, the learning type & method, the network segment they are implemented on, characteristics of the AI models used and information about the training data sets and the output of the mechanisms. It is the hope of the SNS JU TB that this paper will assist in the understanding of the work performed within the SNS JU on the very important topic of AI, promote the AI solutions developed in Europe and foster synergies with other global AI and 6G experts. (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)
SNS Publications 2024:
This whitepaper from the SNS JU Reliable Software Networks Working Group (Software WG) investigates Key Frameworks and Interfaces towards Open, Intelligent and Reliable 6G networks. These aspects are implemented in software and therefore Software has emerged as an essential part of mobile telecommunication networks for the efficient and effective operation of the 5G and 6G systems. 6G Software, with APIs, frameworks, enablers, as well as advanced and tailored security, will transform 6G networks into a dynamic, intelligent, and secure platform capable of meeting the demands of future applications. These trends are evident in several network processes such as:
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- Network programmability – based on Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that facilitate the integration of complex 6G use cases, enhancing interoperability and supporting dynamic service creation and management. APIs are considered as the main way to harvest and expose the capabilities of 6G networks. On the one hand, APIs enable standardized, seamless interaction between software components and network services, supporting features like capability exposure, edge computing, AI/ML, and integration of other technology domains like cloud computing, data analytics and Internet of Things.
- Frameworks for reusable components that address network programmability, scalability, intelligent operations, and security to accelerate the development of high-performance use cases for 6G by ensuring consistent and structured solutions. Frameworks are essential for managing the dynamic, scalable nature of 6G networks and driving innovation..
- Management – based on AI-driven zero-touch Management and Orchestration (MANO) of End-to-End (E2E) slices under stringent Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to intelligently support a vast number of simultaneous and heterogeneous network slices tailored to various vertical use cases. Automation of service and resource management processes with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) mechanisms.
- Security – to ensure a secure and trustworthy 6G network environment, while safeguarding user privacy and responding effectively to emerging threats, a wide range of topics are considered – including, but not-limited, to Secure Onboarding, SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response)-enhanced 6G Orchestration, Decentralized Security Analytics, Remote Attestation, Privacy-Aware Orchestration, Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) Sharing and Trustworthiness assessment of network components.
These elements collectively drive innovation, scalability, and reliability while ensuring that 6G networks remain adaptable and resilient in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
