R&I group

Software Networks

The Software Networks (SN) research group focuses on advancing the capabilities of next-generation networks through automation, intelligence, federation and integration. With the increasing shift from centralized to distributed infrastructures, the research group addresses resource management challenges. It focuses on combining AI, automation, and integration to simplify the management of complex networks, ensuring scalability, reliability, and efficiency for next-generation applications and services.

Research lines

Intent-Based Networking (IBN): This research line focuses on the intelligent orchestration of network resources through high-level business intent abstraction. IBN complements Network Function Virtualization (NFV) by abstracting the complexities of infrastructure configuration, much like NFV decouples services from physical hardware. At its core, IBN aims to translate business-level goals into network control policies via advanced generative AI (GenAI) and machine reasoning tools, which are learned and executed by low-level agentic systems, leveraging the Emergent Communication (EC) paradigm. This enables networks to adapt dynamically, respond to changing requirements, and self-optimize with minimal human intervention.
Cognitive Cloud Continuum: This research line is focused on the investigation and prototyping of cloud-native solutions for providing extended capabilities and intelligence across the edge-to-cloud continuum to improve latency, scalability, resource utilization, and context-awareness.Specific research topics include the integration and interoperation of NFV and MEC orchestrators, AI/ML-based analytics services for workload placement and re-allocation, federation of inter-operator edge platforms, and integration with a vertical-oriented service exposure layer.

Innovation lines

Connected Collaborative Computing (3C) Networks
Resource Exposure, GSMA Operator Platform, CAMARA, Federation and Open Gateway

Technologies

Intelligent Application/Service Orchestration for Cognitive Cloud Continuum [incl. extension to NTN]
Telco capabilities exposure (CAMARA, GSMA Open Gateway, Operator Platform) and network federation
Intent-based Networking
Intelligent slice management
Distributed and secure Marketplace for 5G/6G resources
Agentic Networking and Multi-agent communications protocols
Testbed & telco -focused virtualisation stacks

Group leader

Pouria Sayyad Khodashenas

Areas

Smart Networks & Services 5G/6G Space Communications

Software Networks

Projects

Software Networks

Publications

Energy-aware Joint Orchestration of 5G and Robots: Experimental Testbed and Field Validation

M. Groshev, L. Zanzi, C. Delgado, X. Li, A. d. l. Oliva and X. Costa-Pérez, “Energy-Aware Joint Orchestration of 5G and Robots: Experimental Testbed and Field Validation,” in IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 3046-3059, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.1109/TNSM.2025.3555126. keywords: {Robots;Robot kinematics;5G mobile communication;Robot sensing systems;Sensors;Resource management;Real-time systems;Energy consumption;Testing;Peer-to-peer computing;5G;orchestration;robotics;optimization;offloading;energy efficient},

Quantum Computing in the RAN with Qu4Fec: Closing Gaps Towards Quantum-based FEC processors

Nikolaos Apostolakis, Marta Sierra-Obea, Marco Gramaglia, Jose A. Ayala-Romero, Andres Garcia-Saavedra, Marco Fiore, Albert Banchs, and Xavier Costa-Perez. 2025. Quantum Computing in the RAN with Qu4Fec: Closing Gaps Towards Quantum-based FEC processors. Proc. ACM Meas. Anal. Comput. Syst. 9, 2, Article 36 (June 2025), 25 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3727128

Curved Apertures for Customized Wave Trajectories: Beyond Flat Aperture Limitations

J. M. Canals, F. Devoti, V. Sciancalepore, M. D. Renzo and X. Costa-Pérez, “Curved Apertures for Customized Wave Trajectories: Beyond Flat Aperture Limitations,” in IEEE Wireless Communications Letters (2025).

Software Networks