6G-SANDBOX aims to develop a large-scale EU-wide experimental platform for 6G emerging technologies
6G-SANDBOX has signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to foster research in the 6G field, the former said in a release.
6G-SANDBOX is a pan-European testbed for 6G experimentation funded by Smart Networks and Service Joint Undertaking under the Horizon Europe initiative.
The parties noted that the main aim of this agreement is to foster collaboration between Europe and Taiwanese companies for 6G research by linking 6G-SANDBOX testbeds with Taiwan’s telecommunications ecosystem.
Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, ITRI and 6G-SANDBOX will delve into pioneering 6G research topics, focusing on areas such as joint communications and sensing (JCAS) and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS).
ITRI will invite companies to participate in the MoU and will facilitate 6G-SANDBOX testbeds’ access to essential components, including 5G cores, 5G O-RAN base stations, SMO/RIC management platforms, JCAS frameworks and advanced network planning and emulation tools.
As the initial step of this collaboration, ITRI representatives visited the 6G-SANDBOX testbed in Malaga, Spain, on November 8.
6G-SANDBOX was launched in January 2023, with Keysight Technologies as the project’s coordinator, along with sixteen other organizations. This initiative combines digital and physical nodes to deliver fully configurable, manageable and controllable end-to-end networks for validating new technologies and research advancements for future 6G technologies. It will enable entities across the European Union (EU) to test promising technical 6G enablers, including network automation, cybersecurity, digital twins and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as technologies that streamline energy consumption.
6G-SANDBOX is part of the 6G SNS-JU Phase 1 program and has as its main objective to develop a large-scale EU-wide experimental platform for 6G emerging technologies.
Pang-An Ting, general director of ITRI’s Information and Communications Research Laboratories, said: “During our visit to Gothenburg for the EuCNC & 6G Summit this year, ITRI collaborated closely with leading lights in the 6G academia and industry. We explored robust research and development partnerships with European counterparts. I’m also pleased to announce that ITRI has successfully joined the esteemed ranks of the 6G-IA. By seamlessly integrating technologies, applications, and experimental networks from Taiwan into the 6G-SANDBOX testbeds, we are paving the way for collaborative experimentation for people in Europe and Taiwanese companies and institutes, focusing on both 5G and 6G technologies.”
“Looking ahead, we plan to extend invitations to universities and additional Taiwanese companies, aligning our shared commitment to innovating 5G networks and defining 6G standards,” he added.
“Through a robust interconnection between 6G-SANDBOX testbeds and the ITRI experimental network, we aim to create a comprehensive research platform for 6G applications,” said Michael Dieudonne, 6G-SANDBOX coordinator.
