Proof of Concepts
Validating the 6G-LEADER RAN
6G-LEADER is moving from theoretical innovation to real-world validation through five distinct PoCs. These validate our RAN design using large-scale testbeds in the UK, Italy, and Spain.
Involved Project Partners: CNIT; Massive Beams, Digital Catapult, Four Dot Infinity and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
From Pillars to Proof
Our methodology follows a two-stage evolution.
Phase A (Months 1-18) focuses on initial deployment and technical refinement. The results drive improvements in our core technical packages before moving to Phase B (Months 19-36) for final demonstration and KPI validation.
Current
FUTURE
Phase A
Deployment
Integration & Refinement
Phase B
PROGRESS TRACKER
35%
Current Status
Phase A - Deployment
Active Testbeds
Pisa, Genoa, London, Madrid
Completed Milestones
Planning and Methodology
Next Milestones
M10 - Intermediary Release (Month 18)
KPI Dashboard
Data
Volume
Reduction
Semantic-aware
Data
Volume
Increase
RIS & AirComp
Energy Consumption
Increase
RIS & AirComp
EMF
Exposure
Reduction
Fluid Antennas
AI/ML
Accuracy
Reduction in
Real-time inference
Control loop stability
Conflict Reduction
Conflict Reduction across RIC applications
Hardware
Cost
Reduction
RIS-based
Know our PoCs
XR and UAV Seamless
Real-Time Interaction
The Scenario
Remote search-and-rescue or industrial monitoring.
Technical Stack
The Innovation
Uses a dual-camera system. A low-power Neuromorphic Camera stays on for scene understanding and triggers on-demand UAV flights with high-fidelity cameras, saving 30% battery life.
Testbed
Federated CNIT testbed (ARNO in Pisa and S2N in Genoa).
DIAGRAM
PoC#1 XR and UAV Seamless Real-Time Interaction
EXPLANATORY VideoS
Enhanced Mobile
Broadband (FR3)
The Scenario
High-speed urban 6G using the FR3 band.
Technical Stack
SRS O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU), MB FR3 O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU), and Rohde & Schwarz measurement gear.
The Innovation
Leverages Near-Field RIS (Reflective Intelligent Surfaces) to perform hybrid digital-analog beamforming, increasing spectral and energy efficiency while reducing hardware costs.
TARGET
50% increase in spectral efficiency, 30% increase in energy efficiency and 30% lower hardware costs.
Testbed
SRS and MB O-RAN Testbeds.
DIAGRAM
PoC#2 demonstrator for RIS-based hybrid beamforming
AI/ML Trainable 6G
RIC Conflict Manager
The Scenario
Preventing and mitigating control actions across Energy Saving and Smart Handover xApps.
Technical Stack
ACC O-CU and dRAX near-RT RIC, and SRS O-DU
The Innovation
An AI/ML-assisted conflict management function in the near-RT RIC that detects and mitigates cross-xApp control and policy conflicts
TARGET
10-15% energy saving with negligible impact on users QoE and reducing the number of direct conflicts by 50%.
Testbed
DICAT SONIC Labs (UK).
DIAGRAM
PoC#3 internal dRax architecture for supporting conflict Manager
Wireless for AI Based
on AirComp
The Scenario
Massive distributed sensing with a large number of UEs collaboratively computing global functions (e.g., max, min, mean, sum) directly over the wireless uplink..
Technical Stack
Semantically-aware xApps controlling Digital AirComp operation (aggregation function, UE set, resource allocation) via Near-RT RIC..
The Innovation
Digital AirComp enabling over-the-air computation of global functions through OFDMA-compatible signal superposition..
TARGET
40% reduction in control-plane overhead, and 30% reduction in energy consumption.
Testbed
CNIT ARNO (Pisa).
DIAGRAM
PoC#4 Wireless for AI
PoC #4 CINIT ARNO Testbed in Pisa, Italy
AI/ML-Aided Enhanced
Multiple Access
The Scenario
Reducing human exposure to radio waves in dense areas.
Technical Stack
Reconfigurable antenna based on electrowetting and AI/ML-driven reconfiguration and channel estimation techniques.
The Innovation
Fluid Antennas (FA) using liquid metal (eGaIn) that physically moves via electric impulses to find the best signal path.
TARGET
25% reduction in EMF exposure and 40% increase in data sum-rate.
Testbed
UC3M (Madrid).
DIAGRAM
PoC#5 General Architecture.
Technical Documentation
D7.1: Prototype Plan and Evaluation Methodology
Status: Available
D7.2: Phase A Report on PoC Evaluation
D7.3: Final Report & Recommendations
Status: Pending – M36
Milestone 5 - PoC Planning Ready
Current
Milestone 10 - Intermediary Release
Coming Soon – Month 18
Milestone 13 - Demonstration Videos
Coming Soon – Month 36
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