Digital Catapult has connected to a network infrastructure research platform to help advance the development of future networks.
The JOINER (Joint Open Infrastructure for Networks Research) platform brings together 11 universities and research organisations to create environments for large-scale 6G research and experimentation. The project is led by the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab.
Digital Catapult will integrate its Autonomous Network Service Management and Orchestration System into JOINER, enabling the creation of intelligent, resilient 6G networks capable of adapting to changing demands from UK industry.
Dritan Kaleshi, director of 5G technology, Digital Catapult, said, “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.
“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.”
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, director, Smart Internet Lab, University of Bristol, added, “The JOINER platform is going to revolutionise the way we undertake telecoms R&D and innovation in the UK.
“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.”
Developing next-generation networks often requires significant investment, which can create barriers for smaller organisations. Digital Catapult’s network of independent, vendor-neutral testbeds aims to provide access to resources that help organisations apply deep tech innovations to solve complex challenges.
The JOINER platform supports early commercialisation and proof-of-concept testing for next-generation networks. This could enable deep tech companies to scale faster.