Researchers from the CONNECT Centre working on the 6G-XCEL project joined the team members at Virginia Tech, USA, for a joint workshop with the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) on February 25–26, 2025.
6G-XCEL Project is a transatlantic collaboration that brings together a large ecosystem of researchers from the EU and US to advance AI for future 6G networks. The consortium includes 10 EU partners and 10 US partners, and is led by CONNECT Director Professor Dan Kilper. Together, the consortium is working to develop and implement a reference AI framework to shape the foundations of 6G connectivity.
At its core is the development of DMMAI — the Decentralised Multi-party, Multi-network AI framework. DMMAI aims to enable the secure and sustainable federation of AI-based network control across different network domains and physical layers. Research within the project also supports use case development, curated datasets, data/model repositories, and benchmarking tools to accelerate innovation and deployment of AI/ML in 6G.
The two-day workshop at Virginia Tech brought together project partners to review progress, present cutting-edge research, and align on the next stages of implementation. The agenda featured work package updates, technical deliverable discussions, use case development, and presentations covering architecture, testbeds, and intelligent network innovations.
Key sessions included:
- Updates on data management, DMMAI architecture and implementation, validation and experimentation, standards cooperation, and energy efficiency.
- Research presentations covering AI in O-RAN, transfer learning, intelligent data retrieval, and cross-domain AI applications.
- Demonstrations of the CCI testbed and real-time AI applications in wireless systems.
- Collaborative sessions to shape future research directions and partner contributions.
Among the highlights was a talk by Professor Marco Ruffini, CONNECT Principal Investigator and leader of the Optical and Wireless Networks group at Trinity College Dublin. Drawing on work from OpenIreland, Ireland’s national open networking testbed, Professor Ruffini discussed how optical-wireless integration can underpin the convergence needed for future 6G networks.
During the workshop, Professor Merim Dzaferagic delivered a presentation detailing the initial design and implementation of the DMMAI framework, highlighting its role in the upcoming demonstration at OFC. He also discussed the potential for integrating project use cases within the diverse testbeds provided by various consortium members, emphasizing the importance of practical validation and showcasing real-world applicability of the developed AI frameworks. His insights underscored the collaborative effort required to ensure seamless interoperability and effective deployment of AI-driven network control solutions across different platforms.
“This event was a key milestone for the 6G-XCEL project. It not only acknowledged technical achievements but also solidified international cooperation as we push forward toward sustainable, intelligent 6G infrastructure,” commented CONNECT Director Professor Dan Kilper.
The event was generously hosted by Professor Luiz DaSilva and Dr Joao Santos, whose leadership helped foster an engaging and productive environment for all attendees.
Stay connected with 6G-XCEL developments at www.6g-xcel.eu, including deep dives on architecture and progress on the DMMAI framework.