The EU-funded SESAME project combines network virtualization and edge-computing to develop multi-tenant/multi-service 5G Small Cells

Athens, October 18, 2015 – The research project “Small-cell Coordination for Multi-tenancy and Edge services” (SESAME), G.A. No. 671596, is one of the nineteen projects funded by the European Commission’s 5G-PPP framework. The mission of the 5G-PPP is to deliver architectures, solutions and standardized technologies for the ubiquitous next generation mobile communication infrastructures and services.

Project SESAME is an integral component of the 5G-PPP framework and targets innovations around the three central elements of 5G: network intelligence through Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), Mobile Edge Cloud Computing by enhancing small cells with micro servers, and substantial evolution of the small cell concept by incorporating multi-tenancy (neutral host) and advanced SON (Self-Organizing Networks) features in mobile network infrastructures. This will allow several operators, service providers and other actors to engage in new business models, like e.g., infrastructure sharing, novel cloud and location based services, etc.

The SESAME project will demonstrate the capabilities of network virtualization applied in small cells as an enabler for 5G services. In particular, the application of enhanced processing, intelligence and edge-Cloud capabilities to small cells are seen as “key innovation” challenges. This will be achieved by transforming the physical resources (small cells) of specific telecom operators into virtualized resources, and by developing an innovative architecture capable of making available dynamic small cell coverage to different operators in an “as a service” manner through a host-neutral platform.

SESAME brings together a very strong European team, involving major international vendors and key research organizations. The project team is composed of complementary expertise in order to drive consensus-building at global scale matching requirements of involved stakeholders, and to communicate and disseminate the project results to scientific fora, standards organizations and other relevant international bodies.

Led by the biggest Greek telecom operator Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), SESAME involves eighteen partners from seven European countries and has a budget of 8 million €. The National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos’, Athens, Greece, acts as the technical manager. Further partners are IPAccess, Italtel, STMicroelectronics, Fujitsu Labs Europe, Virtual Open Systems, Atos, Orion Innovations, Athonet srl, Incites consulting, Create-Net Research Center, University of Surrey, University of Brighton, Universidad del País Vasco, i2cat, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and UPC Barcelona.

Background on the EU’s Horizon 2020 5G PPP initiative

Horizon 2020 is the largest EU research and innovation programme ever, with nearly €80 billion in public funding available over seven years (2014-2020) in addition to the private investment it will attract. The 5G Public-Private Partnership (5G PPP) is an instrument launched as part of Horizon 2020, with a budget of €700 million in public funding expected to leverage five times this amount (€3.5 billion) in private investment.

Contact

For any questions regarding SESAME, please contact the project coordinator:

Dr. Ioannis Chochliouros

E-mail: ichochliouros@oteresearch.gr

Web: http://www.sesame-h2020-5g-ppp.eu