IoT requires cloud infrastructures for data analysis (e.g., temperature monitoring, energy consumption measurement, etc.). Traditionally, cloud services have been implemented in large datacentres in the core network. Core cloud offers high-computational capacity with moderate response time, meeting the requirements of centralized services with low-delay demands. However, collecting information and bringing it into one core cloud infrastructure is not a long-term scalable solution, particularly as the volume of IoT devices and data is forecasted to explode. A scalable and efficient solution, both at the network and cloud level, is to distribute the IoT analytics between the core cloud and the edge of the network (e.g. first analytics on the edge cloud and the big data analytics on the core cloud). For an efficient distribution of IoT analytics and use of network resources, it requires to integrate the control of the transport networks (packet and optical) with the distributed edge and cloud resources in order to deploy dynamic and efficient IoT services. This paper presents and experimentally validates the first IoT-aware multi-layer (packet/optical) transport SDN and edge/cloud orchestration architecture that deploys an IoT-traffic control and congestion avoidance mechanism for dynamic distribution of IoT processing to the edge of the network (i.e., edge computing) based on the actual network resource state.

Software defined networking (SDN) and flexible grid optical transport technology are two key technologies that allow network operators to customize their infrastructure based on application requirements and therefore minimizing the extra capital and operational costs required for hosting new applications. In this paper, for the first time we report on design, implementation & demonstration of a novel OpenFlow based SDN unified control plane allowing seamless operation across heterogeneous state-of-the-art optical and packet transport domains. We verify and experimentally evaluate OpenFlow protocol extensions for flexible DWDM grid transport technology along with its integration with fixed DWDM grid and layer-2 packet switching.

Automating the provisioning of telecommunications services, deployed over a heterogeneous infrastructure (in terms of domains, technologies and management platforms), remains a complex task, yet driven by the constant need to reduce costs and service deployment time. This is more so, when such services are increasingly conceived around inter-connected functions and require allocation of computing, storage and networking resources. This automation drives the development of service and resource orchestration platforms that extend, integrate and build on top of existing approaches, macroscopically adopting Software Defined Networking principles, leveraging programmability and open control in view of inter-operability. Such systems are combining centralized and distributed elements, integrating platforms whose development may happen independently and parallel, and are constantly adapting to ever changing requirements, such as virtualization and slicing. Of specific interest is the (optical) transport network segment, traditionally operated independently via closed proprietary systems, and characterized by being relatively complex and hard to reach consensus regarding modelling and abstraction. In view of the targets, the transport network segment needs to be integrated into such service orchestration platforms efficiently. In this context, this paper aims at providing an introduction to control, management and orchestration systems, of which the network control is a core component, along their main drivers, key benefits and functional/protocol architectures. It covers multi-domain and multi-layer networks and includes complex use cases, challenges and current trends such as joint IT/network orchestration and 5G network slicing

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As the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication systems are commercially deployed, they bring new services, enhance user experiences, and offer various opportunities to different industries. Despite its advancements, 5G encounters several challenges. To tackle these issues, global industrial, academic, and standards organizations are actively researching on sixth generation (6G) wireless communication systems. 6G networks are envisioned as a transformative shift in the interactions between the physical, digital, and human realms, paving the way for a pervasive human-centered cyber-physical world. 6G is positioned to be a platform that offers communication and beyond communication services considering both performance and value centric technological development approaches. In this paper, we present the way forward towards the design of 6G end-to-end (E2E) system as a consolidated view of leading industry stakeholders and academia in the European level 6G flagship project Hexa-X-II. We discuss the key challenges with 5G and how 6G is expected to tackle those by introducing new technological innovations and supporting novel use case requirements. We provide a comprehensive methodology for the design of a 6G E2E system including ten principles, a blueprint, and a structured design process. The architecture design principles prioritize environmental sustainability, digital inclusiveness, and trustworthiness, considering their impact on the 6G E2E system. The blueprint is described corresponding to the infrastructure, network centric application, and application layers, as well as the pervasive functionalities and the relevant technological innovations. Following the design principles and the system blueprint, the design process is demonstrated as two-way approaches (i.e., 1) key performance and value indicators based design process. 2) top-down versus bottom-up alignment process) through the lens of a collaborative robot use case. Through this use case, a special attention is given to the technological enablers that cover management and orchestration functionalities and their 6G enhancement to go beyond the limitations characterizing the previous network generation. In addition, virtual modelling aspects related to digital twining and simulations for 6G E2E system design are also discussed.

A multidomain optical transport network composed of heterogeneous optical transport technologies (e.g., flexi/fixed-grid optical circuit switching and optical packet switching) and control plane technologies (e.g., centralized OpenFlow or distributed GMPLS) does not naturally interoperate, and a network orchestration mechanism is required. A network orchestrator allows the composition of end-to-end network service provisioning across multidomain optical networks comprising different transport and control plane technologies. Software-defined networking (SDN) is a key technology to address this requirement, since the separation of control and data planes makes the SDN a suitable candidate for end-to-end provisioning service orchestration across multiple domains with heterogeneous control and transport technologies. This paper presents two different network orchestration's architectures based on the application-based network operations (ABNO) which is being defined by IETF based on standard building blocks. Then, we experimentally assesses in the international testbed of the STRAUSS project, an ABNO-based network orchestrator for end-to-end multi-layer (OPS and Flexi-grid OCS) and multidomain provisioning across heterogeneous control domains (SDN/OpenFlow and GMPLS/Stateful PCE) employing dynamic domain abstraction based on virtual node aggregation.