ETHER

ETHER - sElf-evolving terrestrial/non-Terrestrial Hybrid nEtwoRks - will develop solutions for a Unified Radio Access Network (RAN) and for energy-efficient, AI-enabled resource management across the terrestrial, aerial, and space domains, while creating business plans that drive future investments in the area.

This project relies on a multi-layered and unified space-aerial-terrestrial architecture, leveraging the benefits of Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning (AI/ML) for the optimisation of the highly complex and heterogeneous “network of networks”. It will provide solutions for a unified and sustainable RAN for the integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, as well as an AI-based framework for self-evolving network slicing management and orchestration of the integrated network. ETHER includes a coordinated set of actions towards the development of flexible and sustainable, end-to-end integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Network solutions: this project is a groundbreaking concept that leverages the evolution of individual, well-established technologies and widely accepted trends.

One of the goals of this project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of ETHER solutions by experimentation activities that target practical applications. As a mission, the ETHER project aims to identify the key benefits that will drive investment by integrating non-terrestrial networks with terrestrial networks. This project will also architect a viable, highly energy- and cost-efficient, flexible integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial 6G network offering seamless and continuous connectivity.

Ubiwhere’s expectation in the ETHER project, aligned with 5G and the start of the 6G study, is the opportunity to help define the architecture of the 3D ETHER network and its horizontal and vertical interfaces, being responsible for the development of this Work Package.

This project has received funding from the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 101096526.