The Priority Programs and Projects of National Interest, called PPI, are projects aimed at the development of science, technology and innovation, considered by the CATI (Information Technology Area Committee) as strategically relevant to the country. Since 2007, they have been managed by Facti – Foundation to Support Training in Information Technology.   

RNP coordinates the Advanced Internet PPI, which aims to carry out applied research and technological development projects for the evolution of advanced cyberinfrastructure and support for distributed applications. Analysis of network data, new standards in mobile communications and blockchain are some of the themes of these projects.  

In addition to this PPI, the institution also coordinates the Digital Health PPI, which seeks initiatives that support the development and adoption of digital technologies, with an interdisciplinary approach, for the health sciences, on topics such as accelerating the capacity of Human Resources for digital practice of health, cyberinfrastructure for teaching and research in digital health, and body of knowledge in digital health.  

The National Teaching and Research Network has 3 ongoing PPI projects: Brasil 6G, 5G-in-a-box and OpenRAN@Brasil.  

National 6G networks can positively impact public safety, agribusiness and smart city applications  

Currently in its second phase, the Brasil 6G project develops advanced solutions for 6th generation mobile communications networks for the telecommunications sector in Brazil, through scientific research. The most diverse aspects of 6G networks are covered by the project, such as network architectures, digital transmission techniques, artificial intelligence applied in telecommunications, smart surfaces, Internet of Things, use cases and applications for 6G networks, among others. In addition to RNP, the following institutions are part of the project: CPQD, Inatel, Unicamp, UFRJ, UFU, UFG, UFC, UFPA and Unisinos.  

The first result of this research project consisted of surveying the main envisioned applications for 6G Networks: public safety in large urban centers; automation of agricultural processes; environmental, border and public safety monitoring; universal internet access; and the duplication of a real environment in the virtual environment, enabling the monitoring, management and analysis of impacts of practices, policies and solutions in real time, before application in the real scenario (such as smart cities and industries). 

Based on the use cases that were identified, the group of researchers from the Brasil 6G project carried out a survey of requirements that must be supported by the 6G Network to meet the most relevant verticals for the national scenario.  

“Meeting these requirements is a challenging task that demands adding new functionalities to the mobile network. In addition to providing support for communications, the 6G network must offer the sensing, mapping and positioning capacity to meet all the demands of the analyzed application families”, says Iara Machado, director of Research, Development and Innovation at RNP.  

The demonstrations planned to be carried out on this platform will make it possible to assess the effectiveness of the network in providing solutions for different classes of services, meeting requirements that change over time and of different natures (throughput, latency, reliability, number of users, etc.). This phase will run until early 2024.  

Study may enable integration between Eduroam databases and 5G networks 

The 5G in-a-box project carries out research and development of equipment for creating a private 5G network, release 16 (standalone) using a single box, consisting of a radio base station (gNode), 5G core (5GC), and VoNR application (Voice over new radio). The project is a partnership between RNP and Inatel.  

The first phase of the project resulted in a functional equipment composed of integrated 5G ERB and NRM (Mobile Network Core), with ERB radiating a low power downlink signal to cover indoor areas. Validation tests and field demonstrations of the 5G-in-a-Box solution for indoor applications were also carried out.  

The second phase of the project, which started at the end of the first half of 2022, developed the 5G-in-a-Box solution for operation in micro cells in the 3.5 GHz band and in another band to be defined, with completion scheduled for 2023. This stage also includes a study of solutions to facilitate the integration between the databases of the Eduroam system and the 5G networks. 

OpenRAN@Brasil will structure a new architecture based on open mobile access networks 

OpenRAN@Brasil involves research and development of parts of an OpenRAN 5G network, including smart control of access networks and their applications, all network orchestration and management, and smart control of other network segments, such as optical transport in backhaul, midhaul and fronthaul and the development of a 5G radio unit adhering to the requirements defined by the O-RAN Alliance (O-RU 5G) for use in macrocells in the sub-6GHz band. It is currently in the implementation phase of a testbed with a point in Campinas (SP) and Rio de Janeiro. 

RNP, CPQD, Inatel, Eldorado, UFPA, UFCG, UNISINOS, UFG, UNICAMP, UFF, UFRGS and UFRJ are the institutions involved with the program. Among the activities planned by OpenRAN@Brasil in its first phase, the studies and development carried out so far to provision the testbed infrastructure stand out. “Technical studies focused on the design of the infrastructure and equipment needed for its assembly were carried out. The process of acquiring the servers, software stack to control the RAN and other equipment has started”, explains the director.  

The second phase of OpenRAN@Brasil aims at research, development and innovation in relevant technological components of the OpenRAN1 architecture, therefore, it is a continuation of the project of the first phase. The main objective is the research and development of a 5G radio unit that adheres to the requirements defined by the O-RAN Alliance (O-RU 5G) for use in macrocells in the sub-6GHz band. The O-RU 5G to be developed will have as its guiding points: low cost, high programmability and serving a relevant market niche for the development of the country. 

The project will also address RD&I in the intelligence layers in the radio access network (Radio Intelligent Controller - RIC) and in cybersecurity aspects of the OpenRAN architecture. 

More information about the PPI, as well as what to do to provide resources, are in this link.