ENABLE-6G project unlocks the potential of future 6G networks

The IMDEA Networks team will develop 6G localization algorithms and robust techniques using emerging wireless technologies

24 April 2023

Led by IMDEA Networks Institute, one of Spain’s leading innovation and development centers, the ambitious ENABLE-6G project (carried out in collaboration with Telefónica, NEC Europe and BlueSpecs) will oversee the future technology requirements of the European UNICO-5G projects: MAP-6G and RISC-6G. The project aims to address the challenges that face future 6G networks including increased connectivity, higher performance demands, advanced object and environment detection, and communication. ENABLE-6G is funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, in the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).

With the development of 5G driving edge computing, researchers are already looking to the future of 6G. The ENABLE 6G project is crucial due to challenges in capacity, energy efficiency, latency, data security, and privacy. 6G networks must be more adaptable, intelligent, and energy-efficient while providing stronger security and privacy measures. Precise mapping and sensing, data privacy, and security are major concerns for both 5G and future 6G deployments. The ENABLE-6G project’s main objectives include advanced privacy protection and reducing the energy footprint per device.

ENABLE-6G counts on the excellent IMDEA Networks scientists, a top Spanish innovation center with an international and interdisciplinary team. The IMDEA Networks scientists are at the forefront of 6G innovation and development in Spain, and they face several challenges in the RISC project, including optimizing detection and communication, accurate localization, and improving communication performance. They aim to demonstrate the benefits of 6G, such as increased accuracy, reliability, coverage, and efficiency. In the MAP-6G project, the team will develop 6G localization algorithms and robust techniques using emerging wireless technologies. Despite any challenges, they are committed to delivering innovative solutions to improve future wireless networks.

Telefónica is one of the leading private R&D centers in Spain, aiming to explore and develop new technologies and solutions that can improve the company’s existing products and services, as well as identify and create new business opportunities in the telecommunications and technology sectors. Within the RISC-6G and MAP-6G Projects, Telefónica will be using machine learning analysis to control the network, developing scalable and distributed algorithms to preserve privacy, conducting proof-of-concept tests, and leveraging resources to achieve the project goals.

NEC Europe is represented by NEC Laboratories Europe and NEC Ibérica. NEC Laboratories Europe is one of Europe’s most established technology research companies and the European R&D center for the NEC Group, while NEC Ibérica is the European Centre of excellence for smart solutions specializing in technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, data analysis, cloud and IoT. For the project, NEC Laboratories Europe and NEC Ibérica will integrate and optimize reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) into radio access networks (RAN) and open RAN architectures, while advancing RIS prototyping with select customers.

BluSpecs is a digital transformation agency that helps its clients to stay current in the digital age by facilitating the adoption of advanced digital technologies through an ecosystem-focused approach. It will be responsible for exploitation, commercialisation, and communication of the technologies, prioritizing the social economic and technological value of both project outcomes as well as the market readiness.