TeraFlowSDN Research Ecosystem

1/1/2024 - 31/12/2026

Eco-eNet project (Efficient Confluent Edge Networks) is a Horizon Europe initiative aimed at creating sustainable, high-performance transport architectures for 6G by introducing confluent edge networking. Its approach integrates multiple transmission technologies—such as radio fixed wireless (RFW), free-space optical (FSO), and flex-grid optical transport—into a unified system that supports front-, mid-, and backhaul (xhaul) connectivity with ultra-high capacity, low latency, and energy efficiency. Eco-e-Net combines mesh networking at the edge with AI-native orchestration, enabling dynamic resource allocation and federated edge processing across multi-domain environments. Key innovations include plasmonic THz radio links, FSO systems delivering up to 1 Tb/s over 1 km, and optical-spectrum-as-a-service (OSaaS) for flexible wavelength management. By leveraging AI-driven slicing, SDN-based control, and advanced sensing, Eco-e-Net establishes a new paradigm for intelligent, energy-efficient, and resilient edge networks, positioning itself as a cornerstone for next-generation 6G infrastructures.

1/1/2025 - 31/12/2027

6G-OpenSec-Security subproject focuses on delivering proactive and automated security for 6G transport networks through an intelligent Network Slice Security Manager (NSSM). This component introduces closed-loop automation to continuously monitor, detect, and mitigate threats across multi-domain network slices. By leveraging predictive analytics and enforcing Security Service Level Agreements (SSLAs), it ensures that security policies are dynamically applied in real time, reducing the risk of breaches and improving resilience. The NSSM integrates with SDN controllers like TeraFlowSDN to orchestrate security functions at scale, enabling operators to maintain robust protection while supporting the flexibility and programmability required by next-generation networks. 6G-OpenSec-Trust subproject addresses the challenge of establishing trust in highly disaggregated and multi-vendor 6G environments. It introduces a Trust Manager based on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), such as blockchain, to provide transparent and tamper-proof evaluation of service provider trustworthiness. This mechanism supports trust-based SLAs, allowing operators to select partners and resources based on verifiable trust scores. By embedding trust into the orchestration process, OpenSec-Trust enhances accountability and interoperability, ensuring that 6G networks remain secure and reliable even in complex, federated scenarios. Combined with SDN orchestration, this approach enables automated trust enforcement across diverse domains.

1/1/2025 - 31/12/2027

UNITY-6G is a HORIZON-JU-SNS funded research project to contribute to the Network Slice Controller operates as a component on top of TeraflowSDN, issuing specific service requests based on the underlying realization technology used to deploy the network slice.

1/1/2023 - 31/12/2026

ALLEGRO aims at designing and validating a novel end-to-end sliceable, reliable, and secure architecture for next-generation optical networks, achieving high transmission/switching capacity. The ALLEGRO architecture relies on key enabling innovations including a scalable AI/ML assisted control and orchestration system, responsible for autonomous networking, dynamic and constrained service provisioning, function placement and resource allocation, leveraging devices increasing programmability and overall network softwarization. The control and orchestration architecture is based on ETSI TeraFlowSDN modules for transport slicing control in multilayer IP/DWDM networks.

1/1/2023 - 31/12/2026

SEASON aims at to design and validate a sustainable transport network infrastructure able to support beyond 5G and new emerging services. The SEASON infrastructure will rely on the joint usage of Multi-Band (MB) and Space Division Mulitplexing (SDM), spanning the access, aggregation, and metro/long-haul segments, supporting the requirements for x-haul, further integrating the packet/optical and computing layers, and targeting cost-effective capacity increase. A critical objective of such architecture is to ensure energy efficiency. SEASON will rely on power-efficient Digital Signal Processing (DSP), MBoverSDM optical switching, point-to-multipoint transceivers allowing traffic aggregation/router bypassing, and converged packet-optical solutions reducing the number of O/E/O conversions. Such complex infrastructure requires rethinking the control and orchestration systems towards autonomous optical networks, addressing not only the integration – in overarching control systems – of the Radio Access Network (RAN), access and transport segments but also adopting more agile DevOps methodologies. SEASON will leverage on cognitive networks powered by streaming telemetry, real-time network measurements and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-aided service management and orchestration for near-real time network operation, moving intelligence as close as possible to the data plane, and devising a distributed system based on multiple communicating agents and data-driven closed control loops.

1/1/2024 - 31/12/2026

PROTEUS-6G aims to conduct groundbreaking research on complementary technologies that focus on scaling the fronthaul and midhaul (x-haul) segments of 6G networks. The goal is to fully support the potential of emerging 6G services. This will be achieved through the introduction of several innovations, such as a novel spatially-diverse point-to-multi-point (SDPtMP) optical fronthaul distribution network, and utilization of DSCM transceivers for up to 7.2 split option scenarios and development of the LITE-COH TXR.

1/1/2022 - 31/12/2025

6GMICROSDN is a Spanish funded research project to enhance multi-domain orchestration capabilities of ETSI TeraFlowSDN (TFS), including life-cycle management of whiteboxes’ Network Operating System (NOS). This project extends internal TFS components to support NOS life-cycle management and multi-domain SDN orchestration.

1/1/2022 - 31/12/2025

6G-OPENSEC KEYS is at the forefront of this transformation, embracing a vendor-agnostic approach to quantum network management through TeraFlowSDN, a next-generation SDN controller. The key to the project lies in integrating quantum key distribution (QKD) technologies within an open and programmable network architecture. Thanks to compliance with the ETSI GS QKD 015 standard, the system enables interoperability between multiple QKD device manufacturers, avoiding vendor lock-in and facilitating the evolution of open, hybrid networks.
Acknowledgements: Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital and the European Union-Next GenerationEU in the frameworks of the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia and of the Mecanismo de Recuperación y Resilienciatrough UNICO-5G I+D 6G-OPENSEC-KEYS project under reference TSI-063000-2021-61

1/1/2023 - 31/12/2025

6G-BLUR is a Spanish funded research project to contribute to Network Slice Controller.

1/1/2023 - 31/12/2025

ACROSS is a HORIZON-JU-SNS-2022 funded research project that designs and implements an end-to-end service deployment and management platform for next generation networks and services, aiming at unprecedented levels of automation, performance, scalability, and energy efficiency. ETSI TeraFlowSDN is used for cross-domain interconnection, enabling OpenSlice to realize end-to-end scenarios.

1/1/2023 - 31/12/2025

FLEX-SCALE advances disruptive research on complementary optical x-haul (x = front/mid/back) network technologies for Optical Switching Nodes and their Transceiver Interfaces that enable flexible capacity scaling 10 Tb/s rate per interface, 1 Pb/s capacity per link, 10 Pb/s throughput per optical node based on utilisation of ultra-high bandwidth photonic/plasmonic technologies and the efficient exploitation of optical spatial and spectral switching (UltraWide- Band Spectral & Spatial Lanes Multiplexing; UWB/SDM).

1/1/2023 - 31/12/2025

P2CODE envisions the design and development of an open platform for the deployment and dynamic management of end user applications, over distributed, heterogeneous and trusted IoT-Edge node infrastructures, with enhanced programmability features and tools at both the network infrastructure level and the service design and operational level. TFS is used as a Network Fabric Controller to provide (on demand) P4-based transport connectivity services in 5G-based infrastructures where dynamicity is important while scaling a 5G system. For instance, when a new 5G UPF needs to be deployed as a result of increasing end user demands, the P2CODE resource manager (ETSI OSL) may instruct TFS to create a transport service between the newly deployed UPF and the domain where the 5GC resides.

1/1/2023 - 31/12/2025

QUARTER QCI is a QCI funded research project to deploy Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) architectures leveraging the new TeraflowSDN Controller.

1/1/2023 - 30/06/2025

The Smart Network and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) 6G Flagship project Hexa-X-II leads the way to the end-to-end (E2E) system design (based on integrated and interacting technology enablers) and the enabling platform delivering novel services for the next generation (6G) of wireless networks. The project will continue on the tracks of the Horizon Europe project Hexa-X, which has laid the foundation for the global communication network of the 2030s by developing the 6G vision and basic concepts, including candidate key technology enablers. The work in Hexa-X-II expands from research to systemization analysis, early validation, and proof of concept. It progresses from the 6G key enablers that connect the human, physical, and digital worlds to advanced technology readiness – validated technology – including key aspects of modules, protocols and interfaces, and data. Hexa-X-II will design a system blueprint aiming at the sustainable, inclusive, and trustworthy 6G platform that should meet the future needs of serving and transforming society and business.

1/10/2020 - 31/07/2024

Int5Gent project targets the development of a complete 5G system platform for the validation of advanced 5G services and Internet of Things solutions. The project builds on a suite of 5G core technology solutions developed under the 5G-PPP. These include flexible multi-RAT baseband signal processing, beam steering, mmWave technology solutions at 60 GHz and 150 GHz bands, a hardware-based edge processor, GPU processing capabilities, innovative 5G terminals and elastic SDN-based photonic data transport. The overall platform is implemented in two extended test beds, which include actual field deployed segments, managed by the network operators of the consortium.