Digital Catapult has become one of the first sites to connect to the Joint Open Infrastructure for Networks Research (JOINER) platform, to advance the development and use of data-driven and open future networks in the UK.
Led by the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab, the platform is due to speed up adoption of future communication and networking technologies, including 6G.
The platform brings together 11 universities and research organisations to create environments for large-scale 6G research and experimentation. Digital Catapult will integrate its Autonomous Network Service Management and Orchestration System into JOINER to create intelligent, resilient 6G networks.
Developing next-generation networks usually calls for significant investment which can create barriers for smaller organisations. Digital Catapult’s network of independent, vendor-neutral testbeds provide access to resources that support organisations with applying deep tech solutions to solve complex challenges.
Working in collaboration with the University of Bristol, Digital Catapult has demonstrated advanced interdomain service orchestration as part of the REASON project, accelerating the practical application of deep tech innovation.
Interdomain orchestration facilitates seamless coordination across diverse networks, supporting advanced applications such as holographic video calls, and advancing innovation in the immersive space. This solution reduces latency, enhances reliability, and dynamically allocates resources, ensuring optimal performance for immersive and bandwidth-heavy experiences, benefiting sectors such as the UK’s creative industries.
The JOINER platform supports early commercialisation and proof-of-concept testing for next-generation networks, convening capabilities from around the UK, and enabling deep tech companies to scale faster. The platform allows industry and academia to gather experimental evidence, translate research, and validate innovative services under real-world conditions, which are key to advancing the development and use of data-driven and open future networks.
This milestone is the latest highlight for Digital Catapult, in its role at the forefront of advancing 5G, 6G, and Open RAN technologies. Its Open RAN Interoperability testing facilities provide an environment for validating and optimising solutions, and these initiatives will accelerate the deployment of efficient, flexible, and interoperable mobile networks, keeping the UK at the forefront of connectivity innovation.
“We are thrilled to be among the first sites connected to the JOINER platform, a significant step forward in the evolution of future communications and networks research and innovation capabilities in the UK,” said Dritan Kaleshi, Director for 5G Technology, Digital Catapult. “This collaboration with University of Bristol, and the interconnection with all the other JOINER nodes, highlights our role as a key enabler in telecoms innovation, bringing academia, industry, our leading technical expertise and independent facilities together to drive tangible technical progress and deliver benefits for the UK’s economy and society.”
“The JOINER platform is going to revolutionise the way we undertake telecoms R&D and innovation in the UK,” added Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, Director of Smart Internet Lab, University of Bristol. “By creating a national experimentation platform and having leading organisations such as Digital Catapult connected to it, we’ll be able to accelerate the rate at which we can collaborate and innovate, ultimately driving UK growth and global advancements in future telecoms.”
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