End-To-End slicing and data-driven automation of next generation cellular networks with mobile edge clouds
-The 5G mobile network architecture, which is currently consolidated (in terms of network components, technologies and interfaces), reveals a great network performance potential, appealing to different vertical market players. However, this potential cannot be fully harnessed without the appropriate algorithmic innovations and data-driven network automation that will permit full exploitation, global management and end-to-end integration of all the heterogeneous network components and resources. However, despite the rapidly increasing efforts devoted to the consolidation of the core 5G technologies(e.g. 5GPPP phase 2/3 projects), substantial work is still required to meet the IMT-2020 objectives set for the 5G network performance and fully harness the multitude of technological capabilities offered by 5G with minimum human intervention (e.g. through intelligent network automation and control). SEMANTIC aims to answer the aforementioned performance and technological gaps by forming an innovative research and training network for multi-GHz spectrum communications, MEC-empowered service provisioning and end-to-end network slicing, all integrated and jointly orchestrated by forward-looking data-driven network control and automation exploiting the enormous amounts of mobile big data spurred into the mobile data network. In this context, SEMANTIC will form an integrated, multi-disciplinary training network of Early Stage Researchers (ESRs), guided by experienced supervisors, aiming at the creation of highly-trained academic researchers and industrial professionals with a future-proof background on PHY design for multi-GHz communications, end-to-end MEC/RAN integration, slice-enabled connectivity and data-driven network orchestration in the 5G continuum.