Networks Lab Testbed

Overview

Our testbed platforms allow us to develop networking, network management and application-specific optimisation technologies in tailored environments before they are integrated into the central 5G/6G testing infrastructure.

These platforms have a broad scope which is not necessarily restricted to the 5G/6G network environment. They can also be useful for the fixed internet as well as in the satellite network research landscape.

Facilities in detail

The current network testbed platforms include:

P4 and P4-runtime testbed

This testbed offers a sophisticated solution to testing programmable network slices including providing the support for mission critical applications which require ultra-low latency and high reliability in 5G/6G (for example remote surgery or autonomous vehicles).

It is used for the development and testing of new programmable data and control plane mechanisms which are protocol independent. The aim is to realise both flexible and high-performance packet handling capabilities in 5G-and-beyond network environments based on P4 and P4 runtime framework.

Intent-based network testbed

This testbed is used for realising and evaluating intent-based network control and management solutions that can flexibly and automatically translate intent expressed by external clients into specific network configurations, enabling autonomy in complex management tasks.

These solutions require minimal human interventions for both initial network configurations and run-time reconfigurations.

Edge/cloud testbed for 4K/8K video delivery

This testbed enables faster, higher-definition video content solutions. It is used for the implementation, testing, and demonstration of our developed context-aware video content manipulation technologies such as caching, prefetching, adaptation, and transcoding.

The purpose is to holistically support assured user experiences in dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP video (DASH) applications against various network dynamicity and uncertainty. Application scenarios that can be supported include 4K/8K 4-Pi-steradian video (known as 360 video) content in both video-on-demand and live streaming modes.

Holographic-based teleportation framework

This framework is designed to enable immersive content applications based on augmented reality technologies. It encompasses all the essential elements of supporting internet-scale teleportation of people and objects using head-mounted devices such as Microsoft HoloLens.

The framework has been equipped with our own developed functions of cloud- and edge- based remote content production, context-aware frame buffering and synchronisation which jointly enable assured user quality of experience over 5G/6G networks as well as the public internet.