A Platform for Beyond-5G Intent Driven Advanced Connectivity Services with End-to-End Network Exposure and Network APIs (BEACON) is a trilateral collaboration between the University of Sussex’s 6G Lab, Honda R&D Europe (UK) Ltd., and the Future Communications Connectivity Lab (FCCLab) at Singapore University of Technology and Design SUTD aims to develop an AI-enabled, intent-driven end-to-end service-based architecture (SBA) and Network Exposure Function (NEF) framework for real-time robotic and automotive applications over beyond 5G/emerging 6G networks. It builds on Sussex and Honda’s successful 5G-Advanced proof-of-concept for real-time vehicle video streaming via telecom APIs and leverages the Sussex–SUTD MoU established in 2023 to advance 6G and AI research.
Current 5G-Advanced systems lack exposure of Radio Access Network (RAN) functionalities and provide only access to core network functionalities via NEF and network APIs. This restricts industry and business sectors beyond telecom operators from fully exploiting advanced connectivity features critical for low-latency, high-precision, and context-aware applications such as smart mobility and industrial automation. Without comprehensive access to RAN capabilities like MIMO, high-precision positioning and integrated sensing through APIs, these sectors face challenges deploying optimized, adaptive services relying on real-time network intelligence.
BEACON addresses the gap by integrating 5G-Advanced NEF with the openness of the O-RAN architecture, particularly through near-Real-Time and Non-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs). This combined framework will securely expose advanced RAN and Core features, enabling these sectors to harness the full potential of 5G and beyond through extended Network APIs.
The project will then deliver an intent-driven AI-driven software toolkit that empowers end-user industry and business sectors and developers to specify their connectivity goals rather than implementation details. This AI-enabled tool translates high-level intents into automated, secure configurations across RAN, Core, Edge, and Cloud via programmable network APIs.
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